gaslightist

The term "gaslightist" refers to an individual who engages in the psychological manipulation tactic known as gaslighting. Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse where a person makes someone question their sanity, memory, or perception of reality. A gaslightist may deny events that clearly happened, insist that the victim is remembering things incorrectly, or accuse the victim of being overly sensitive or dramatic.

The goal of a gaslightist is to destabilize the victim, making them more dependent on the abuser and easier to control. This manipulation can manifest in various ways, such as twisting the victim's words, dismissing their feelings, or fabricating evidence to support their false narratives. Over time, persistent gaslighting can lead to significant psychological distress for the victim, including anxiety, depression, and a profound loss of self-esteem.

The term "gaslighting" originates from the 1938 play "Gas Light" and its subsequent film adaptations, where a husband manipulates his wife into believing she is going insane by subtly altering their environment, including dimming the gas lights and then denying it. While originally a term describing a specific form of manipulation within intimate relationships, its usage has broadened to encompass similar tactics in various contexts, such as workplace dynamics or political discourse. A "gaslightist" is therefore someone who actively employs these deceptive and damaging techniques.