- The US dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster announced that their 2022 word of the year is “gaslighting” or as Merriam-Webster defines it, “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone especially for one’s own advantage.” Interest in the term was up by 1,740% over the previous years according to searches of the online dictionary.
- The term itself came into existence 80 years ago in 1938 through gas light, Gas Light is a play written by Patrick Hamilton. Two films were made on this play in the 1940s.
- Gaslighting refers to playing with someone on a psychological level long enough for the victim to doubt the validity of their own thoughts and true sense of self.
- This results in confusion, loss of self-confidence and self-esteem. In this situation, the victim becomes dependent on the perpetrator.
- Gaslighting is a disgusting tool used by abusers who are in a relationship with someone. Apart from this it is used by politician and other people. Gaslighting can also be a corporate ploy to mislead the public.
- Gaslighting is psychologically cheating on someone. Psychological gaslighting is the act of questioning reality while manipulating or dominating a person.
- Talking to someone in a psychological way, questioning their existence, their truth, their decisions or their memories comes under the purview of gaslighting.
Merriam-Webster announced ‘Gaslighting’ as its Word of the Year – 2022
