ELI5: What is gaslighting?

Context: Psychology 3 views Apr 1, 2026 2 min read

Gaslighting is when someone tries to trick you into thinking you're crazy or wrong about things you know are true.

Imagine you have a favorite toy, a red ball. You know it's red, you play with it every day. Now, someone keeps telling you it's actually blue, even though you can clearly see it's red. They might say things like:

  • "You're imagining things! It's always been blue."
  • "Are you sure you remember correctly? Maybe you're confused."
  • "Everyone else sees it as blue, why are you the only one who thinks it's red?"
If this happens over and over, you might start to doubt yourself. You might start to think, "Maybe I am wrong. Maybe it is blue." That's what gaslighting does.

It's like someone is playing tricks on your brain to make you question your own memory, perception, and sanity. They might:

  • Deny things that happened: "That never happened! You're making it up."
  • Minimize your feelings: "You're overreacting! It's not a big deal."
  • Twist your words: "I didn't say that! You misunderstood me."
Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse because it can make you feel confused, insecure, and like you can't trust yourself. It's important to remember that your feelings and perceptions are valid, and if someone is constantly trying to make you doubt them, it's not okay.

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