Gaslighting and Covert Psychological Abuse: Dynamics and Recovery

This document provides an extensive analysis of gaslighting and covert psychological abuse, detailing its subtle yet destructive nature. It defines these forms of manipulation, which systematically erode a victim's self-worth and perception of reality, and traces the origin of the term "gaslighting" to a 1944 film. The text further explores various tactics used by perpetrators, the profound impacts on victims, and the psychological motivations of abusers, often linked to personality traits like narcissism. Finally, it outlines pathways to recovery through self-help and therapeutic interventions, and discusses the challenges of seeking legal justice for such often "invisible" harm across different relationship contexts.