Gaslighting Explained
/ farnooshstc
/ @stoicerstick
Gaslighting Explained Transcript: Now depending on your walk of life this video will either be a tutorial on how to gaslight people or how to spot someone that is gaslighting you and here on the stoic stick channel we firmly believe in being chaotic neutral so go ahead and use it whichever way you would like its not like I can stop you anyway. That being said we are going to be looking at different methods of gaslighting and for those of you unaware of what gaslighting is, per the oxford dictionary to gaslight is to “manipulate someone using psychological methods, into questioning their own sanity or powers of reasoning.” With that out of the way lets take a look at some of the techniques you can employ to gaslight people. There are 5 techniques that are commonly used but I’ve also got a bonus one that someone tried to use on me which I thought would be fun to include at the end. But with that out of the way on to Technique number 1: Memory wipe, This technique involves making the target question their memory of events, you want to use this technique when they bring up flaws in your argument or give you examples of when you did something in the past that contradicts what you are saying now, for example you could be arguing with a work colleague and they could say “Have you finished the PowerPoint that we need for the end of quarter pitch” Now here comes the technique “Im pretty sure that it was assigned to you, in fact thanks for reminding me to ask you about it, so when do you think you can get it back to us? Because the boss really stressed that it was important for the meeting and if I have to tell him that you haven’t finished it he could get pretty angry about it.” You see, the part that really sells it is the added context as well as the implied threat, now your colleague will definitely be second guessing themselves and in some cases will actually just go and finish the work that needs to be done thinking that it may actually have been assigned to him. Now for those of you watching who want to avoid being gaslit the best way to counter this technique would be to always wear a wire at all times and make sure to record anything and everything that anyone says to you, this way you can be sure that you will always have the correct version of events. Now technique number 2 is: Alternative Truths, this technique involves directly refuting the targets position and inventing a new one that is more sympathetic to your own position. Say for example that your colleague was wearing a wire and recorded your conversation “Oh really Stu you weren’t assigned the PowerPoint task? Well could clarify what you meant when you said this last week” “Hey its stoic stick and im just back from a meeting with the big man he wants me to do some stupid PowerPoint or something for the shareholders, erm are you wearing a wire?” “erm no I just… have weird chest insertions” “ah okay that’s a little weird but yea I gotta do this powerpoint but ill probably just leave it for later” Now it might seem like you are pretty much screwed at this point but, now is a perfect time to employ technique number 2. “ im pretty sure that’s not me, it doesn’t even sound like me to start with, in fact I don’t even work here, I just come here because I get bored sometimes,” “dd didn’t you get paid the highest bonus last year” “ yes I did but that’s beside the point, anyway im off to go be unemployed somewhere else, good luck finding someone to do the powerpoint.” Now you have effectively gaslit your colleague and with no one else to do the job, he will do the work you were supposed to do and if he does a good job you can quickly claim credit and probably get an even bigger bonus next year. And just like that using a double gaslight combo you have effectively shirked responsibilities and gaslit your colleague. Technique number 3 is: Spontaneous Diagnosis. As the name implies you want to discredit the targets position by accusing them of being mentally ill or not fully sound of mind, by doing this it puts into question their own conclusions and if done well enough can make it so they actually believe that they are going through an episode. Word of advice though technique does much better when it is paired with subtlety, for example. “Did you pay the rent last month because, theres a bunch of letters in the mail about overdue rent payments, and weirdly also a bunch of leaflets about the casino in town.” “Umm yes obviously, clearly the mailman just posted those through the wrong door, did you even check to see that they have our address on the letters? Yea I didn’t think so, I think all this stress lately has been getting to you, im kind of worried that its making you sick. Are you sure youre all there?”