The Gaslight Effect: Emotional Manipulation and Cognitive Dissonance in Close Relationships

Abstract

The present study aims to examine the psychological impact  of  gaslighting  behavior  on  emotional manipulation  and  cognitive  dissonance  in  intimate relationships. Gaslighting, a subtle form of emotional abuse,  involves  manipulation  that  causes  victims  to question their perceptions, emotions, and memories. A sample  of  80  individuals  who  had  experienced  close romantic relationships was selected through purposive sampling.  Three  tools  were  used:  the  Gaslighting Behavior Inventory (GBI), the Emotional Manipulation Scale (EMS), and the Cognitive Dissonance Scale (CDS). Based on GBI scores, participants were categorized into high and low gaslighting behavior groups. Independent samples t-tests were applied to analyze the data. Results revealed that individuals with high gaslighting behavior scored significantly higher in emotional manipulation (M =  41.05)  and  cognitive  dissonance  (M  =  35.30) compared to those with low gaslighting behavior (M = 33.75 and M = 28.40, respectively). The findings were statistically  significant  at  the  0.01  level.  The  study concludes that gaslighting is strongly associated with increased  emotional  manipulation  and  psychological discomfort in intimate relationships.