Dismantling Racism
What Is?” series (developed by the General Commission on Religion and
Race)
What Is Gaslighting?
Definition:
The word “gaslight” is derived from a 1938 stage play by Patrick Hamilton titled “Gas
Light,” in which a husband psychologically manipulates his wife into doubting her own
perceptions. Gaslighting is thus defined as a form of psychological manipulation and
abuse in which someone is made to question their own memory, perception, and sanity.
Example(s) of Gaslighting:
Perpetrators of gaslighting can consciously and unconsciously target an individual or
members of a vulnerable population by sowing seeds of doubt, denying the facts about
their experiences, their environment, and their feelings.
A person or a group of people experiencing gaslighting are often accused of: making a
big deal out of nothing, taking things too personally or seriously, being too sensitive or
emotional, jumping to the wrong conclusion, being “crazy” or “insane,” being too
dramatic, not thinking clearly or overthinking things, being paranoid, being lazy, not
taking advantage of opportunities, being upset over nothing, living in the past or holding
on to the past, lying, imagining things, being too defensive, needing help, etc.
For a concrete example, see the more information section resources.
Biblical/Spiritual/Theological Framing or References:
Manipulating someone else’s perceptions of an event or idea is an age-old practice, to
which the biblical writers attest in the creation narrative of the first humans, found in
Genesis 3. In this passage, Eve is manipulated by the Serpent into questioning the
reality and memory of what she knew to be true about her relationship with God and
then asserts that her account is wrong. The seed of doubt planted by the serpent
yielded devastating consequences for Eve and Adam, severing their relationship with
God, each other, and creation (Genesis 3). While most Christians relate more to Eve
and Adam, who fall prey to the serpent’s antics in this story, the truth of the matter is we
also have tendencies of the serpent within us, making us vulnerable to perpetrating
gaslighting upon our neighbor. Perhaps the caution for those of us who follow the way of
Jesus Christ is to always be watchful that we are not twisting and shaping God’s word to
suit our own purposes, at the expense of our neighbor.
Reflection Questions:
1. What new insight have you gained about the term gaslighting?
2. What is the difference between having a disagreement with someone and
gaslighting them?
3. Do you think gaslighting is an issue in the Church? Why or why not?
4. What action can you take to guard yourself against gaslighting?
Additional Resources:
5 Signs it’s Gaslighting, Not a Disagreement (From Psych2Go)
10 Examples of What Gaslighting Sounds Like (From Psych2Go)
5 Signs You're Gaslighting Someone, Even If You Don't Mean To (From Psych2Go)
