: In the film, a man named Gregory attempts to drive his wife, Paula, insane to distract her from his criminal activities—specifically his search for her deceased aunt’s missing jewels hidden in their attic.
Gaslighting is rarely a single event; it is typically a . Gaslight
: The title comes from a specific tactic Gregory uses: he secretly turns on the gas lights in the attic to search for the jewels, which causes the lights in the rest of the house to dim. When Paula notices the dimming, Gregory insists she is imagining it, undermining her trust in her own senses. The Psychological Concept: Gaslighting : In the film, a man named Gregory
In modern psychology, is defined as a form of psychological manipulation and emotional abuse where one person causes another to doubt their own perceptions, memories, and sanity. Common Tactics & Signs When Paula notices the dimming, Gregory insists she
The term originated from the by Patrick Hamilton, later famously adapted into the 1944 American film Gaslight starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer.
A Brief History of the Term Gaslighting and the Movie Behind It