Gaslighting and The Knot Theory of Mind PDF

Gaslighting and the knot theory of mind
Domina Petric, MD
(4). Signs of gaslighting are witholding
ABSTRACT information from the victim, countering

information to fit the abuser´s perspective,
Aim is to discuss gaslighting and to
discounting information, verbal abuse
provide advices how to recognize the
(usually in the form of offensive jokes),
abuser and how to defend oneself from the
blocking and diverting the victim´s
gaslighting.
attention from outside sources, trivializing
the victim´s worth and undermining victim
INTRODUCTION TO GASLIGHTING by gradually weakening them and their

thought process (5).
Gaslighting is a form of psychological
manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of Three most common methods of
doubt in a targeted individual or in gaslighting are hiding, changing and
members of a targeted group, making them control. The abuser wants to hide things
question their own memory, perception and informations from the victim, change
and sanity. Using persistent denial, something about the victim so that the
misdirection, contradiction and lying, it victim molds into abuser´s fantasy and
attempts to destabilize the victim and fully control the victim (6).
delegitimize the victim´s belief (1, 2).
Gaslighting can occur in private
Sociopaths and narcissists use gaslighting relationships, in school as a form of
tactics. Sociopaths consistently transgress bullying, on the work as a form of
social mores, break laws and exploit mobbing, or can be institutional and
others, but typically also are convincing systematic.
liars, sometimes charming ones, who
Gaslighting in the workplace can occur
consistently deny wrongdoing. Thus, some
when individuals perform actions that
who have been victimized by sociopaths
cause colleagues to question themselves
may doubt their own perception (3).
and their actions in a way that is
The abuser wants full control of feelings, detrimental to their careers (7). The victim
thoughts or actions of the victim. The may be deliberately excluded, made the
abuser discreetly emotionally abuses the subject of gossip, or persistently
victim in hostile, abusive or coercive ways discredited or questioned in an attempt to
1
destroy the victim´s confidence. The Gaslighters like to question the victim´s
perpetrator may reroute conversations to sanity so that the victim loses credibility.
perceived faults or wrongs (8). Gaslighting Gaslighters often have double standards so
can be committed by any colleague and that the targeted individual feels isolated
can be especially detrimental when the and marginalized. Very popular tactic is
perpetrator is someone in a position of the warm-cold behavior. The perpetrator
power (9). is sometimes throwing the victim in the
positive reinforcement to confuse the
Systematic and institutional gaslighting
victim (10) and the rest of the time is being
occurs in totalitarian and corrupted regimes
very abusive and cold. Gaslighters also like
(communism, nazism, fascism, organized
to project their flaws on the victim and
crime) when the group of abusers that
steal creative ideas and merits from the
serve the totalitarian regime and organized
victim. For example, incompetent abusive
crime abuse a targeted group of honest
boss will try to present the victim as
individuals that oppose to totalitarianism
incompetent and steal the victim´s merits.
and crime.
HOW TO DEFEND ONESELF FROM

GASLIGHTING AND THE KNOT
THE GASLIGHTING
THEORY OF MIND
Gaslighters use toxic emotions
Gaslighting is a powerful weapon of the
(pathological negative emotions) such as
abuser and can be very detrimental for the
hatred and envy to damage the victim´s
victim. Gaslighting, especially when it is
emotional and cognitive health. The victim
long lasting, can cause anxiety, depression
should never internalize the abuser´s
and even psychosis. Mental and emotional
negative emotions and thoughts about
abuse causes the formation of many knots
oneself. It is very important to use only
of negative thoughts and emotions with
healthy negative emotions (for example,
cognitive and emotional damage. This type
healthy anger) when defending and to
of abusers (the gaslighters) like to break
avoid developing pathological negative
the victim´s introspective mirror so that the
emotions (hatred, rage, depression,
victim starts to doubt in oneself. Very
pathological shame, pathological anxiety).
powerful weapon of the gaslighters is
It is very important not to feel hatred
gossip. Abusers often slander their victims
towards the abuser because hatred is
and are often very persistent in lying.
2
always toxic for emotional health. The (disentanglement of the knots) might be
victim should always look for the positive helpful for the victims of gaslighting.
stimuli so that the balance between
positive and negative emotions and
thoughts is maintained. After the conflict REFERENCES:
with the abuser is finished, it is very
1. Oxford Dictionaries (April 20, 2016).
important to restore the homeostasis of the
Retrieved from
mind and to feel positive emotions (love,
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definitio
joy, gratitude) and think positive about
n/gaslight
oneself.
2. Dorpat TL. On the double whammy and
It is very important to raise awareness in
gaslighting. Psychoanalysis &
the society about gaslighting and to use
Psychotherapy, 1994;11(1):91-96.
social measures to prevent gaslighting in
the school, at workplace, in the institutions 3. Stout M. The Sociopath Next Door.
and private relationships. High quality Random House Digital, 2014:94-95.
legislative measures that protect victims
4. Dorpat TL. Crimes of Punishment:
from gaslighting (bullying, mobbing,
America´s Culture of Violence. Algora
institutional gaslighting, discrimination,
Publishing, 2007:118-130.
private gaslighting) are mandatory.
5. Evans P. The Verbally Abusive
Relationship: How to Recognize it and
CONCLUSION How to Respond. Holbrook, Mass: Adams
Media Corporation, 1996.
Gaslighting is very dangerous form of
psychological manipulation and abuse that 6. Greenberg E. Are You Being Gaslighted
can occur in private relationships, in the By the Narcissist in Your Life?
school, at workplace and systematically. Psychology Today. Sussex Publisher
The consequences of the gaslighting can be (September 17, 2017). Retrieved from
devastating. It is very important to raise https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog
awareness in the society about gaslighting /understanding-narcissism/201709/are-
and to provide high quality legislative you-being-gaslighted-the-narcissist-in-
measures that will protect all the victims of your-life
the gaslighting. The knot psychotherapy
3
7. Portnow KE. Dialogues of doubt: The
psychology of self-doubt and emotional
gaslighting in adult women and men
(1997). Retrieved from
https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=5572602
8. Young S. Gaslighting at work-when you

think you are going crazy (July 22, 2016).
Retrieved from
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/gaslightin
g-work-when-you-think-going-crazy-
samantha-young/
9. Simon G. Gaslighting as a Manipulation

Tactic: What It Is. Who Does It, And Why
(November 8, 2011).
https://counsellingresource.com/features/2
011/11/08/gaslighting/
10. Sarkis SA. 11 Warning Signs of

Gaslighting (January 22, 2017). Retrieved
from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog
/here-there-and-everywhere/201701/11-
warning-signs-gaslighting

Gaslighting and The Knot Theory of Mind PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gaslighting and The Knot Theory of Mind PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gaslighting and The Knot Theory of Mind PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gaslighting and the knot theory of mind

(4). Signs of gaslighting are witholding

ABSTRACT information from the victim, countering

INTRODUCTION TO GASLIGHTING by gradually weakening them and their

HOW TO DEFEND ONESELF FROM

8. Young S. Gaslighting at work-when you

9. Simon G. Gaslighting as a Manipulation

10. Sarkis SA. 11 Warning Signs of

You might also like