Gaslighting Behaviors
A tactic where someone makes you doubt your memory or perception.
What is gaslighting?
“That never happened.”
What is a common gaslighting phrase?
Making someone feel guilty to get compliance.
What is guilt-tripping?
“If you really loved me, you would…”
What is a guilt-tripping phrase?
Telling someone their actions are not acceptable without aggression.
What is setting a boundary?
Constantly questioning your memory to confuse you.
What is constantly challenging your memory?
“You’re overreacting.”
What is minimizing feelings?
Avoiding accountability by acting like the victim.
What is playing the victim?
“I’m only doing this for your own good.”
What is manipulation under the guise of help?
A response that validates your perception instead of letting them confuse you.
What is trusting your own perception?
Making you feel “crazy” or unstable for expressing emotions.
What is making you feel “crazy” or unstable?
“You’re imagining things.”
What is making someone doubt their perception?
Excessive affection early in a relationship to gain control.
What is love bombing?
“You’ll regret it if you don’t listen to me.”
What is a threatening or coercive phrase?
Politely refusing to argue over false claims.
What is not defending excessively?
Rewriting past events to make you question reality.
What is denying events or twisting facts?
“That’s not what I said.”
What is denying what was said to confuse someone?
Refusing responsibility and shifting blame onto someone else.
What is blame-shifting?
“You owe me for what I’ve done for you.”
What is emotional debt manipulation?
A phrase to end manipulation calmly and assertively.
What is “I’m willing to talk when we can communicate respectfully”?
Isolating you from friends or support systems.
What is isolating you from friends or support?
“No one else would think that way.”
What is making you feel invalid or isolated?
Controlling or limiting decisions, money, or freedom.
What is controlling behavior?
“I can’t believe you would do that to me.”
What is playing the victim to control someone?
Recognizing when someone is trying to control you and maintaining independence.
What is maintaining autonomy and personal boundaries?