The study of mental processes and behavior. - The thriller "Gaslight" turns 80 years old, transforming into a psychological idea.
Gaslighting is a way of manipulating someone until they doubt their own judgment, memories, and perceptions. This concept has gained popularity in the US, especially with the unpredictable behavior of Donald Trump. It's also a common tactic in personal relationships, along with ghosting. This term originated from the English play "Gas Light" by Patrick Hamilton (1904-1962).
In the summer of 1944, the most famous film adaptation was released - "Gaslight" featuring Ingrid Bergman. Angela Lansbury, known for her role in "Murder, She Wrote," made her big-screen debut in this psychological thriller as Nancy. Lansbury was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
The film's title refers to the unusual fluctuations in the gas streetlights around the inherited London townhouse. Bergman's character Paula is frightened by these changes but cannot explain them rationally. Bergman, aged 29 at the time, won her first of three Oscars for her performance as Paula Alquist at the 1945 Academy Awards, beating out stars like Bette Davis and Barbara Stanwyck.
Ingrid Bergman stars as a woman in the classic, set in Victorian England in the late 19th century, where her husband, Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer), attempts to drive her insane. Paula refuses to believe that her husband is a thief and murderer who killed her wealthy aunt. He convinces her that the noises she hears upstairs and the dimming of the gaslight are just delusions.
The psychological abuse of gaslighting often happens in close relationships and takes place over an extended period. At first, the victim is puzzled. But eventually, they start to question their own mental health and accept the twisted reality the abuser presents. In severe cases, the victim loses trust in their own perceptions and submits to the perceived truth of the abuser.
The American Psychological Association (APA) warns that "gaslighting" is more of a colloquial term, although it does show up in professional literature. This strategy involves tactics employed by people with antisocial or narcissistic personality disorders. Victims of gaslighting may experience significant self-doubt and mental health issues.
'Gaslighting' was named the Word of the Year by Merriam-Webster a year and a half ago. This despicable tactic can affect romantic relationships, families, friend groups, and even media and politics. It can also be used as a corporate deception to mislead the public. There's also the phenomenon of medical gaslighting, where medical professionals dismiss the symptoms or illnesses of patients - "It's all in your head."
Psychologists view gaslighting as a strategy used by populists, extremist politicians, authoritarians, or terrorist groups. Psychotherapist and bestselling author Bryant Welch pointed out early on that Donald Trump often uses this method. It creates confusion, undermines trust in established media, and spreads one's own version of reality.
The term's etymology was explored by veteran journalism professor Ben Yagoda in 2017. He discovered that some 1950s sitcoms were inspired by the manipulative actions of Boris Karloff's character in the 1944 Hollywood film. This shift from television gag to scientific concept occurred in the 1960s. The verb "to gaslight" was first used in anthropologist Anthony F. C. Wallace's 1961 book "Culture and Personality."
The word gained wider use in the 1980s. Yagoda recalled hearing it for the first time in 1989 when he interviewed then-19-year-old Uma Thurman for "Rolling Stone." However, it wasn't fully integrated into general usage until the last eight years. Trump - who still matters in 2024 - ignited this change.
Recognize emotional abuse through gaslighting (AOK): "Gaslight" (1944) - House of Lady AlquistIMDb: "Gaslight" (1940) - "Gaslight" IMDb: "Gaslight" (1960) IMDb: "Gaslight" (1977)
