idea
Gas lighting is a lying technique used notably by politicians and public persons to improve their image. It consists in trying to change perception of reality through a combination of tactics:
- negating the other person's point of view (I didn't hit you)
- reducing the proportion (I barely touched you)
- proposing an alternative (you're acting like I hit you with a steel bar)
- accusing the other person (you're always making me mad)
- assure that your version of reality is the correct one, using a statement that should already be accepted by the victim (you know I would never hit you!)
Gas lighting changes perception of the victim to a point where they'd deny an interpretation of reality that departs from the truth they've been indoctrinated.