Gaslighting; a form of light torture

The point of torture is to destroy the will of the enemy.   To have the enemy reveal whatever it is the Torturer wants.

It may be troop movements, secret plans, confessions, and have the victim question his/her own sanity.

The term; “Gaslighting” comes from a motion picture called  Gaslight  which was  released in 1944. The plot was simple, a husband strives to manipulates his wife so that she thinks she is losing her mind.

The purpose is to make the victim question reality.   Once getting a person to become unsure of what is real and what is not, the victory is assured.

It may sound silly, but Gaslighting works.   It really works.  And just about anyone is susceptible to gaslighting.

It is used, as in the motion picture, by abusive husbands on their wives.   He will come up with a totally false premises, and try so hard to get her to believe it, to accept it.   He will beat her until she does.

Dictators, narcissists, and cult leaders use it. It is not a quick and dramatic process.  To work it is done slowly. The victim is not to realize how extensively they have been brainwashed.

The basic process is;

1. Obvious lies.

As you hear it, you know it is a lie.  But they say it with certainty.  Why are they being so obvious?  They are setting the pattern.   Once you hear the obvious lie, you become unsure if anything they say is true.  This keeps you unsteady, uncertain, and that is weakness.

2.  Denial they said/did something,  despite the proof. 

You know they said this.   You heard it, you might even have a record.  Yet,  they deny.  One has to question reality.  Doubt; maybe they never said it that way.    The more they deny,  the more you question your reality. As soon as you question yourself, you make yourself vulnerable to accepting their version.

3. Over time.

Gaslighting is slow.  It is done  over time.  Lie here and lie there,  an insult.   Even intelligent  self-aware people can be warn down over time.

These are just the first three aspects of the process of gaslighting.

Pay attention to how the American President has been utilising this process.