RT Article
T1 "It's all in your head": personality traits and gaslighting tactics in intimate relationships
JF Journal of family violence
VO 40
IS 2
SP 259
OP 268
A1 March, Evita
A1 Kay, Cameron S.
A1 Dinić, Bojana M.
A1 Wagstaff, Danielle
A1 Grabovac, Beáta
A1 Jonason, Peter Karl 19XX-
A2 Kay, Cameron S.
A2 Dinić, Bojana M.
A2 Wagstaff, Danielle
A2 Grabovac, Beáta
A2 Jonason, Peter Karl 19XX-
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1916545467
AB 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.
NO Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 267-268
K1 Sadism
K1 Machiavellianism
K1 Psychopathy
K1 Narcissism
K1 Dark Tetrad
K1 Intimate Partner Violence
K1 Gaslighting
DO 10.1007/s10896-023-00582-y