What is 'gaslight'?

This year there was a 1.740% increase in searches for the term “gaslight” on the Merriam-Webster American dictionary website.

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The definition states: “psychologically manipulating (a person) generally over a long period of time so that the victim questionand the validity of your own thoughts, perception of reality or confusing memories and experiences, loss of confidence and self-esteem, and doubts about your own emotional or mental stability: subject (someone) to gas lighting".

In Portuguese, the translation is not identical. It is linked to subtle psychological violence that causes emotional instability. The abuser lies, distorts reality and manipulates the victim.

The word didn't just become famous for English-speaking people. Here in Brazil, at the beginning of the year it was also widely used during the Big Brother Brasil (BBB) period.

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Arthur Aguiar, winner of the edition, was accused of practicing gas light. In one of the discord games, the topic was among the five most talked about topics in the country.

Arthur was accused by Laís Caldas and other women in the house of belittling them during several conversations. The topic became popular, there were analyzes and a lot of controversy.

Symptoms of gaslighting or emotional manipulation

A lack of self-confidence is one of the main clues that you are being gaslighted. “You lose confidence, you lose self-esteem and you no longer have a feeling of self-validation. For it to be valid, it will need this look from this person who is the oppressor”, says psychologist, defender of women's rights and state deputy Patrícia Bezerra.

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“The victim ends up believing that they are going crazy, because, generally, these are the oppressor's statements: 'you're crazy, I didn't say that, I never did that”, explains the psychologist.

According to Patricia, generally, those who practice gas light uses other people to belittle the victim. “Let's assume that your best friend's opinion is very important to you. So, that man says: 'but your best friend thinks that about you too'. This undermines your self-confidence and doubts your ability.”

Women are most affected

According to the Brazilian Institute of Neurodevelopment (IBND), Or gas light It can be practiced by both men and women. But this behavior usually comes from the male population, due to machismo.

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For Patrícia Bezerra, the most affected audience is “without a shadow of a doubt female”, with a profile of codependency.

This woman with low self-esteem is more likely to fall into an abusive gaslight relationship and even tends to build a family with her tormentor, according to the psychologist.

The victim of this type of psychological abuser may have situations in their history that led them to an abusive relationship. It may have been a lack of affection in childhood, or the model received, that is, the first emotional relationships she had at home.

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“She feels familiar with that love, which is very similar to what she has received all her life. For this person, it is not something wrong or abnormal, so they cannot see the other person’s abusive behavior”, explains Patricia.

Ending this relationship is essential, even with children involved. “Breaking this relationship is not only important for the woman, but for the children, because they have the opportunity to establish a new standard outside of the abusive relationship”, says the expert.

Compensation in court

O gas light may be subject to compensation in the civil sphere and a crime in the criminal sphere. (JUsBrazil)

Manipulation in itself is not a crime, but if it is carried out with the intention of obtaining an undue advantage for oneself or others, it may be the crime of embezzlement, as provided for in art. 171 of the Penal Code.

If the manipulation is carried out with some type of violence or serious threat, it can be considered a crime of illegal harassment or extortion, provided for in articles 146 and 158.