가스라이팅

Meme Name: Gaslighting

The term "gaslighting" entered South Korea in the late 2010s and began to gain popularity. It spread rapidly, especially through internet communities like Twitter (now X), and began to replace existing vocabulary with similar meanings. The word first gained public attention when it was used to criticize Donald Trump ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and its global usage increased to the point where the Oxford Dictionary named it one of the most popular words of 2018.

Gaslighting is a neologism referring to words and actions that subtly undermine another person's autonomy to bring them under one's own influence. It is a psychological manipulation tactic often seen in abusive relationships, which can make victims feel confused, anxious, and distrustful of their own judgment. The term originated from Patrick Hamilton's 1938 play 'Gaslight' and became widely known through the 1944 film of the same name. It is derived from the film's plot, where a husband manipulates his wife into questioning her own sanity, ultimately making her dependent on him. The core of gaslighting lies in making the victim doubt their own judgment, often by exploiting their insecurities to impose one's own views and control them. Sometimes, even the perpetrator may not realize their actions constitute gaslighting and perform them unconsciously.

Gaslighting is not limited to a specific age or gender and appears in various relationships and groups. It commonly occurs among ordinary people in power dynamics, such as spouses, children, students, soldiers, and employees, with minorities being particularly vulnerable. It is widely discussed in various areas of daily life, including families, romantic relationships, schools, the military, and workplaces, and can even be utilized in totalitarian societies or specific organizations. As the term became widely used by the public, there is also a tendency for "gaslighting" to be misused, sometimes even for simple conflicts or criticisms.

Gaslighting can manifest in various situations. For example, a school bully might say to a victim, "You made me angry," instilling guilt in the victim. In a romantic relationship, phrases like "Don't you know why I'm angry?" can test and confuse the partner's judgment. Parents might say to their children, "This is all because I worry about you," thereby taking away their children's right to decide and trying to manipulate them according to their own will. Criticizing a child's purchasing tastes or constantly bringing up past mistakes to make the child distrust their own judgment are also examples of gaslighting. Cases where a boss gaslights a subordinate out of jealousy for their competence

are also commonly found.

"Gaslighting" is not an academically established psychological term, and its ambiguous concept carries a high risk of misuse. It is often misused, such as mistaking simple nagging, interference, or advice for gaslighting, or dismissing situations where someone is angry with them as gaslighting. Such misuse can dilute the original meaning of the term and trivialize the suffering of victims who are genuinely undergoing psychological manipulation. Dr. Oh Eun-young recommended the term "psychological domination," and the National Institute of Korean Language also suggested "심리(적) 지배" (psychological domination/control) as a purified term. Furthermore, it is inappropriate to unconditionally label others' advice or interference as gaslighting when one is engaging in legally or ethically problematic behavior. To escape gaslighting, it is important to make logical judgments independently rather than relying on others, not to blindly trust others' words, and to clearly express one's refusal.

The Korean term "가스라이팅" (ga-seu-ra-i-ting) is a direct transliteration of the English word "gaslighting." Therefore, an English speaker would pronounce it exactly like the English word: "Gas-lighting."