6. Denying Wrongdoing
Bullies and abusers are infamous for refusing to acknowledge their actions. They act in this manner in order to escape accountability for their terrible decisions.
Gaslighting victims may experience feelings of being ignored, unheard, and unimportance as a result of this denial. Additionally, the victim finds it extremely difficult to recover from the bullying or abuse as a result of this strategy.
7. Using Compassionate Words as Weapons
A gaslighter may occasionally speak kindly and lovingly when confronted or questioned in an effort to diffuse the situation. Perhaps they’ll say something like, “You are aware of my affection for you. I would never intentionally harm you.”
These can be the words you want to hear, but they aren’t sincere, especially if the same actions keep happening. Nevertheless, they could succeed in their only objective of getting you to absolve them just long enough.
8. Rewriting History
A gaslighter could repeatedly recount stories in ways that are favorable to them. For instance, if you subsequently talk about how your spouse slammed you against the wall, they could tell you that you stumbled and they were trying to balance you when you fell against the wall.
You could start to question your recollection of what happened. Your uncertainty or perplexity is precisely what is intended.
Why People Do It
Because being correct enables them to affirm themselves, people frequently practice gaslighting. In order to retain their sense of power and control when they feel threatened, gaslighters depend on you to accept and believe their version of the facts.
A person may engage in gaslighting if they think their story is more accurate than another person’s. Therefore, getting someone else to doubt their own reality may give them a feeling of superiority.