The Origins of Gaslighting

The term gaslighting originated from a 1938 play where a husband systematically manipulated his wife into doubting her own reality. By dimming the gas lights and lying about it, he made her believe she was losing her mind.

This dark thriller by Patrick Hamilton explores the terrifying ease of emotional abuse within a marriage. In the story, the husband uses subtle tricks to hide his criminal activities while convincing his spouse she is mentally unstable. His goal was to destabilize her perception of truth so he could steal her hidden inheritance. Today, the term has evolved from a vintage plot point into a widely recognized psychological concept.