Definition:
Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or system undermines an individual’s perception of reality by denying, minimizing, or reframing their experiences, memories, or emotions.
Usage Context:
Originally used to describe interpersonal abuse, the term is now also applied to institutional, cultural, and systemic contexts. It appears in discussions of healthcare, workplaces, media framing, customer service, and bureaucratic systems where people are repeatedly told that problems do not exist, are exaggerated, or are the result of personal misunderstanding.
Critical Note:
When gaslighting is embedded in systems rather than relationships, it becomes harder to identify and resist. Institutional gaslighting often relies on policy language, metrics, or “neutral process” to invalidate lived experience, shifting doubt inward while preserving external authority.