“It’s All in Your Head”: Personality Traits and Gaslighting Tactics in Intimate Relationships

Journal of Family Violence
Evita March1, Cameron S. Kay2, Bojana M. Dinić3, Danielle Wagstaff4, Beáta Grabovac5, Peter K. Jonason6
1Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia, Berwick, Australia
2Psychology Department, University of Oregon, Eugene, USA
3Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
4Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia, Churchill, Australia
5Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hungarian Language Teacher Training Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
6Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

Tóm tắt

Abstract Background Gaslighting is a form of psychological/emotional abuse inflicted upon an intimate partner that includes manipulative tactics such as misdirection, denial, lying, and contradiction – all to destabilize the victim/survivor. Compared to other forms of intimate partner abuse, gaslighting remains underexplored in the literature. Aims/Purpose In this preregistered study, we aimed to explore correlates between the Dark Tetrad traits (i.e., grandiose narcissism, vulnerable narcissism, Machiavellian tactics, Machiavellian views, primary psychopathy, secondary psychopathy, and sadism) and acceptance of gaslighting tactics in intimate relationships. Method Participants (N = 315; Mage = 42.39; 62.2% women) were recruited online and completed an online questionnaire. We developed and internally validated the Gaslighting Questionnaire, a 10-item self-report measure of acceptance of gaslighting tactics in intimate relationships. Results All the Dark Tetrad traits were associated with more acceptance of gaslighting tactics in intimate relationships, with primary psychopathy, Machiavellian tactics, and sadism emerging as significant predictors in the regression. We also examined sex differences. Compared to women, men found deploying gaslighting tactics more acceptable, and this was largely driven by sex differences in primary psychopathy. Further, men high in vulnerable narcissism demonstrated the greatest acceptance of gaslighting tactics. Conclusions These findings provide foundational information for understanding gaslighting tactics in intimate partner abuse and may have practical implications for relationship counsellors and clinicians practicing in this space. For example, the present findings indicate that personality assessment can be a valuable tool for estimating a client’s propensity to gaslight.

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Journal of Family Violence

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