The Gaslight Effect: How to Spot and Survive the Hidden Manipulation Others Use to Control Your Life

Dr. Robin Stern

Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale, May 1, 2007 - Psychology - 304 pages

In this groundbreaking guide, the prominent therapist Dr. Robin Stern shows how the Gaslight Effect works, how you can decide which relationships can be saved and which you have to walk away from—and how to gasproof your life so you'll avoid gaslighting relationship.

Your husband crosses the line in his flirtations with another woman at a dinner party. When you confront him, he asks you to stop being insecure and controlling. After a long argument, you apologize for giving him a hard time.

Your mother belittles your clothes, your job, and your boyfriend. But instead of fighting back, you wonder if your mother is right and figure that a mature person should be able to take a little criticism. 

If you think things like this can’t happen to you, think again. Gaslighting is an insidious form of emotional abuse and manipulation that is difficult to recognize and even harder to break free from.
 
Are you being gaslighted? Check for these telltale signs:
 
1) Does your opinion of yourself change according to approval or disapproval from your spouse?

2) When your boss praises you, do you feel as if you could conquer the world?

3) Do you dread having small things go wrong at home—buying the wrong brand of toothpaste, not having dinner ready on time, a mistaken appointment written on the calendar? 
 
4) Do you have trouble making simple decisions and constantly second guess yourself?
 
5) Do you frequently make excuses for your partner's behavior to your family and friends?
 
6) Do you feel hopeless and joyless?

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - nancyewhite - LibraryThing

This one was life-changing for me. Every previous thing I'd read about gaslighting, narcissists, sociopaths etc. ironically focused on them and their behavior. This one did as well, but it also had ...

The Gaslight Effect: How to Spot and Survive the Hidden Manipulation Others Use to Control Your Life

User Review  - Not Available - Book Verdict

Following in the steps of writers like Patricia Evans (The Verbally Abusive Relationship ), psychotherapist Stern addresses gaslighting-emotional abuse and manipulation among family members, coworkers ...

Contents

• Foreword by Naomi Wölf: 1
• chapter The Gaslight Tango 3: 49
• What Are You Talking About?: 79
• Its All My Fault: 155
• Should I Stay or Should I Go?: 195
• Keeping Your Life GaslightFree 27: 217
• Appendix A Knowour Emotions: 235
• Appendix B Visualize Your Relationship: 241
• Take Care of Yourself: 247
• Resources: 255
• Index 26: 263

About the author

, has been a therapist for more than twenty years, specializing in issues of emotional abuse and psychological manipulation. She has been a keynote speaker at universities, and consults to schools, corporations, and nonprofit organizations. She teaches at Hunter College, Teachers College, and Columbia University and is also a leadership coach for faculty. She is a founding member of the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership. She currently maintains a psychotherapy practice in New York City, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Gaslight Effect: How to Spot and Survive the Hidden Manipulation Others Use to Control Your Life
• Author: Dr. Robin Stern
• Publisher: Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale, 2007
• ISBN: 0767927826, 9780767927826
• Length: 304 pages
• Subjects: Family & Relationships / Dysfunctional Families; Psychology / Interpersonal Relations; Self-Help / Abuse