On Gaslighting audiobook cover - Uncovering Hidden Manipulations That Erode Trust and Truth

On Gaslighting

Uncovering Hidden Manipulations That Erode Trust and Truth

Kate Abramson

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Communication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentPsychology

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On Gaslighting
Origins and True Definition+
Common Contexts+
Motivations+
The Gaslighter's Toolkit+
The Harms+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to the text, how has the term 'gaslighting' suffered from 'concept creep' in recent years?
  • A. It is now exclusively used as a clinical diagnosis in psychology.
  • B. It is frequently used to describe any form of emotional manipulation, dishonesty, or conflict, diluting its original meaning.
  • C. It has been restricted to describing only manipulation that occurs within romantic relationships.
  • D. It is now mostly used to describe physical abuse rather than psychological manipulation.
Question 2 of 7
How does the text distinguish gaslighting from brainwashing?
  • A. Brainwashing causes a target to radically alter their beliefs, whereas gaslighting makes a target radically question their beliefs while being unable to completely alter them.
  • B. Brainwashing is a long-term process, whereas gaslighting typically happens in a single, intense encounter.
  • C. Brainwashing only occurs in institutional settings, whereas gaslighting only occurs in intimate relationships.
  • D. Brainwashing relies on physical isolation, whereas gaslighting relies entirely on digital and social media manipulation.
Question 3 of 7
Which of the following best describes the most crucial violation in the long-term pattern of gaslighting?
  • A. The gaslighter refuses to listen to the target's testimony.
  • B. The gaslighter publicly humiliates the target in front of their peers.
  • C. The gaslighter coaxing the target into not taking herself seriously.
  • D. The gaslighter physically isolating the target from their family.
Question 4 of 7
What is the deepest, underlying reason a gaslighter goes the extra mile to manipulate a target's reality, rather than simply ignoring or lying to them?
  • A. The gaslighter wants to test the target's emotional resilience and loyalty.
  • B. The gaslighter cannot tolerate any challenge to their worldview and seeks to eliminate the possibility of challenge altogether.
  • C. The gaslighter subconsciously wants to be caught and confronted about their behavior.
  • D. The gaslighter believes that confusing the target is the most effective way to improve their professional performance.
Question 5 of 7
How do gaslighters weaponize a target's empathy as part of their toolkit?
  • A. By feigning vulnerability so the target feels sorry for the gaslighter and forgives their behavior.
  • B. By accusing the target of lacking empathy, causing the target to abandon their personal boundaries.
  • C. By pressuring the target to empathize with the perpetrator, a tactic especially potent against marginalized groups.
  • D. By forcing the target to show empathy to third parties, distracting them from the abuse they are suffering.
Question 6 of 7
Why is the tactic of planting doubt so effective for a gaslighter?
  • A. It exploits the target's natural humility and acknowledgment that they are not infallible.
  • B. It relies on the target's lack of formal education in logic and reasoning.
  • C. It forces the target to rely exclusively on written records rather than their memory.
  • D. It triggers a biological response that temporarily erases the target's short-term memory.
Question 7 of 7
What does the text mean when it describes gaslighting as an 'epistemic' violation?
  • A. It violates the target's legal rights in a workplace or institutional setting.
  • B. It distorts the target's sense of knowledge and self-knowledge, eroding their confidence in their ability to reason.
  • C. It forces the target to adopt the religious or political beliefs of the gaslighter.
  • D. It physically silences the target by removing them from social situations.

On Gaslighting — Full Chapter Overview

On Gaslighting Summary & Overview

On Gaslighting (2024) explores the concept of gaslighting as a distinctive form of manipulation that undermines a person’s ability to trust their own perceptions, reasoning, and emotions. Through the lens of contemporary philosophy this text analyzes the conception, tools, and implications of gaslighting, linking this psychological phenomenon to broader social issues like racism, sexism, and trust in relationships.

Who Should Listen to On Gaslighting ?

  • Therapists who want to understand the psychological and emotional effects of gaslighting 
  • Ethicists seeking to understand the moral dimensions of gaslighting
  • Social justice advocates who want to uncover how gaslighting exploits oppressive social systems 

About the Author: Kate Abramson

Kate Abramson is a philosopher specializing in ethics, moral psychology, and feminist philosophy, with a focus on interpersonal dynamics such as trust, manipulation, and gaslighting. She is a professor at Indiana University and has written extensively on the moral and psychological implications of gaslighting and other forms of social harm.

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