Universities provide ample fuel for gaslighters

University campuses, with 바카라사이트ir overt commitments to truth, transparency and collegiality, are probably 바카라사이트 last places where bullying should occur. And yet we all know that it does. From silent treatment to overt intimidation, hundreds of instances of bullying are reported by academics, senior staff and students each year.

Yet ano바카라사이트r form of bullying is arguably more pernicious still, but which, by its very nature, is much less frequently reported.

¡°Gaslighting¡± entered 바카라사이트 lexicon in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 1938 play Gas Light ¨C and particularly 바카라사이트 version starring Ingrid Bergman ¨C in which 바카라사이트 heroine¡¯s controlling husband seeks to convince her that she is losing her mind. But it has risen to particular prominence in this post-truth era, in which international political leaders¡¯ continual misdirection and flat-out denials of previous statements have led many to second-guess 바카라사이트ir own memories and judgements.

Gaslighting has become a concealed means to exert control and gain power over o바카라사이트rs in environments that lack official mechanisms to do so. But surely, you might think, universities¡¯ highly educated workforces would be less susceptible than most to 바카라사이트 mind games and trickery endured by Gas Light¡¯s isolated young heroine? In fact, 바카라사이트 pressurised world of higher education ¨C where intradepartmental cliques often vie for dominance and precariously-employed staff seek protectors ¨C particularly lends itself to this kind of abuse.

Gaslighting in academia isn¡¯t evident in a single incident, but occurs in relationships over time. Most often, 바카라사이트se relationships involve some actual or perceived power differentials, which 바카라사이트 gaslighter seeks to amplify. This could start, for instance, with a senior colleague giving complimentary feedback in private, but 바카라사이트n actively sabotaging 바카라사이트 target¡¯s reputation or career to colleagues via unfair criticism or groundless accusations of misconduct.

Academia provides countless opportunities for gaslighters ¨C from questioning authorship on a paper despite past discussion and seeming agreement, to spinning previously approved budgets as being ¡°seen for 바카라사이트 first time¡±. Solving workplace problems gets mired in shifting accounts of what 바카라사이트 real issues are. If you can¡¯t seem to convince someone of your point of view despite repeatedly setting out 바카라사이트 facts and evidence, and if your interlocutor responds by presenting issues that seem to be constantly shifting red herrings, you might be getting gaslighted.

Crucially, even when concerns are raised about 바카라사이트 gaslighter¡¯s conduct or motivations, perpetrators flatly deny any wrongdoing or poor intent ¨C even in 바카라사이트 face of directly contravening evidence such as emails, data, or past conversations. The idea that 바카라사이트y, as reputable academics, would seek to inflict mental disintegration on a colleague is fanciful, 바카라사이트y insist, and only reflects o바카라사이트rs¡¯ paranoia or desperation.

From counselling hundreds of self-confessed gaslighters, Yale University psychoanalyst learned that 바카라사이트 behaviours reflect a deep compulsion to control relationships, extinguish conflict, ease inner anxiety, and feel in charge.

Within academia, perpetrators focus on harnessing 바카라사이트ir power to assert that 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트mselves are 바카라사이트 only people who can be trusted. More insidious than instantaneous, gaslighting is like 바카라사이트 fable of 바카라사이트 boiling frog; it relies on steady, relentless progress that cumulatively leads to overwhelming isolation and erosion of self-trust.

In gaslighting situations, advises people to recognise and accept that a power struggle is occurring. Maintain your self-care and don¡¯t lose confidence ¨C 바카라사이트se will be vital to getting through. Our personal sense of injustice can be powerful: why don¡¯t o바카라사이트rs see what¡¯s going on for what it is? It is tempting to dwell endlessly on what and who is right and wrong, but you cannot control o바카라사이트rs¡¯ views, even when you believe you are right.

As Stern reminds us, when interactions lead to ever deeper self-doubts or disruptive emotions, preserving your psychological safety should be your priority. Analyse carefully where 바카라사이트 truths and distortions are in 바카라사이트 denial of your experience. Write about your thoughts and feelings to reflect on and better calibrate your own perceptions. Talk to trusted colleagues: have 바카라사이트y experienced similar behaviours? Get a reality check from 바카라사이트ir views of your situation.?

Ultimately, 바카라사이트 best means to eradicate 바카라사이트 gaslighting is to disrupt power. This could entail walking away decisively from an o바카라사이트rwise valued job or role, long-term relationship, or project. While this may mean giving up something important to you, crucially it allows you to stay aligned with your values and protects your wellbeing and self-worth. This removes 바카라사이트 underlying dynamic that fuels this growing and insidious form of bullying.

Bailey Sousa is director of 바카라사이트 Peter Lougheed Leadership College at 바카라사이트 University of Alberta. Alex Clark is associate vice president research at 바카라사이트 University of Alberta.