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In reply to the discussion: Excellent post by Heather Cox Richardson: Chuck Todd, Turley on impeachment, media / disinformation [View all]billh58
(6,635 posts)16. 11 Warning Signs of Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a manipulation tactic used to gain power. And it works too well.
Gaslighting is a tactic in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a victim question their reality. It works much better than you may think. Anyone is susceptible to gaslighting, and it is a common technique of abusers, dictators, narcissists, and cult leaders. It is done slowly, so the victim doesn't realize how much they've been brainwashed. For example, in the movie Gaslight (1944), a man manipulates his wife to the point where she thinks she is losing her mind.
Gaslighters typically use the following techniques:
1. They tell blatant lies.
You know it's an outright lie. Yet they are telling you this lie with a straight face. Why are they so blatant? Because they're setting up a precedent. Once they tell you a huge lie, you're not sure if anything they say is true. Keeping you unsteady and off-kilter is the goal.
2. They deny they ever said something, even though you have proof.
You know they said they would do something; you know you heard it. But they out and out deny it. It makes you start questioning your realitymaybe they never said that thing. And the more they do this, the more you question your reality and start accepting theirs.
3. They use what is near and dear to you as ammunition.
They know how important your kids are to you, and they know how important your identity is to you. So those may be one of the first things they attack. If you have kids, they tell you that you should not have had those children. They will tell you'd be a worthy person if only you didn't have a long list of negative traits. They attack the foundation of your being.
[Snip]
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201701/11-warning-signs-gaslighting
Gaslighting is a tactic in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a victim question their reality. It works much better than you may think. Anyone is susceptible to gaslighting, and it is a common technique of abusers, dictators, narcissists, and cult leaders. It is done slowly, so the victim doesn't realize how much they've been brainwashed. For example, in the movie Gaslight (1944), a man manipulates his wife to the point where she thinks she is losing her mind.
Gaslighters typically use the following techniques:
1. They tell blatant lies.
You know it's an outright lie. Yet they are telling you this lie with a straight face. Why are they so blatant? Because they're setting up a precedent. Once they tell you a huge lie, you're not sure if anything they say is true. Keeping you unsteady and off-kilter is the goal.
2. They deny they ever said something, even though you have proof.
You know they said they would do something; you know you heard it. But they out and out deny it. It makes you start questioning your realitymaybe they never said that thing. And the more they do this, the more you question your reality and start accepting theirs.
3. They use what is near and dear to you as ammunition.
They know how important your kids are to you, and they know how important your identity is to you. So those may be one of the first things they attack. If you have kids, they tell you that you should not have had those children. They will tell you'd be a worthy person if only you didn't have a long list of negative traits. They attack the foundation of your being.
[Snip]
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201701/11-warning-signs-gaslighting
As with these, the rest of the techniques fit the Orange Anus-Mouth to a tee.
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Excellent post by Heather Cox Richardson: Chuck Todd, Turley on impeachment, media / disinformation [View all]
erronis
Dec 2019
OP
Todd was chosen to director for the very reason that he can be easily manipulated.
olegramps
Dec 2019
#9
It took well over a year into Trump's presidency for the media to call a lie a lie.
madaboutharry
Dec 2019
#6
Recommending the OP. Excellent. Been known to us a long time, but well stated & researched. . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
Dec 2019
#8
What's worse is that this isn't new, it's not something that suddenly sprang up with Trump
JHB
Dec 2019
#13
Thanks for that. I've read 'gaslighting' and thought I understood it. This gives clarity.
erronis
Dec 2019
#23
Chuck Todd has, to me, always been a bit suspect and more than a bit of a disappointment.
PWPippinesq
Dec 2019
#18
It is, and we have to recognize that that's part of what they want. And get tough.
coti
Dec 2019
#52
media completely misses trump parading limbaugh to intimidate senators with notable timing, while
certainot
Dec 2019
#44
i hope you're right. democracy needs all the help it can get. the iran contra rewrite and
certainot
Dec 2019
#55