Gaslighting in the Workplace: Protecting Your Mental Health

Gaslighting, derived from the 1938 play "Gas Light," refers to a manipulative form of emotional abuse where one person makes another doubt their perceptions and beliefs. Gaslighting has transcended its theatrical origins to infest, most alarmingly, the professional environment. At its core, gaslighting is about control. The primary mechanism involves a series of strategic lies, distorting facts, or making the victim feel overreactive or overly sensitive when expressing their feelings, which leads the victim to question their sanity. This manipulation is particularly damaging in workplaces, where authority dynamics can magnify the impact of such tactics. Here is how to spot gaslighting and how to respond to it.