Finding Clarity in Gaslighting: A Comprehensive Model from Victim-Survivor and Support Service Provider Perspectives

Despite the widespread prevalence of psychological abuse and growing use of the term “gaslighting”, research modelling this dynamic remains limited. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the nuanced dynamics of gaslighting within intimate partner violence, incorporating individual, relational, and environmental factors, in order to improve understanding and inform more effective clinical, legal, and policy interventions for victim-survivors. The study used an online open-ended survey to capture the experiences of victim-survivors of gaslighting and support service providers. Data was analysed using qualitative content analysis to develop categories that represent different factors involved in gaslighting. These categories were used to build a conceptual model, covering the individual and relational dynamics, outcomes, and environmental factors associated with gaslighting in IPV. Key findings included identifiable patterns of behaviour, the critical role of access to support, the influence of pre-existing relationship dynamics, the impact of cultural attitudes, and a range of both immediate and long-term impacts on victims. Findings present a comprehensive view of the various ways gaslighting manifests, and the underlying factors that reinforce it. It emphasizes the need for improved public awareness, targeted interventions, and training for professionals to better recognize and support victims, as well as the necessity for future research to explore the perspectives of perpetrators, diverse cultural impacts, and disentangle gaslighting from other forms of abuse.