(New York) The word “gaslighting” – the behavior of manipulating the mind in a deceptive way – is Merriam-Webster’s word of the year.
Searches for the word, which can be translated into French as “cognitive diversion”, on the dictionary site jumped 1,740% in 2022 compared to the previous year.
But something special happened. There was not a single event that sparked significant spikes in curiosity, as word of the year normally does.
In fact, the word “gaslighting” was ubiquitous.
“It’s a word that has grown so rapidly in the English language, and especially in the last four years, that it has come as a surprise to me and to many of us,” confessed Peter Sokolowski, editor of leader of Merriam-Webster.
“It was a frequently searched word every day of the year,” he added.
Merriam-Webster’s main definition of “gaslighting” is the psychological manipulation of a person, usually over a long period of time, that “causes the victim to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories. and generally lead to confusion, loss of confidence and self-esteem, uncertainty about one’s emotional or mental stability, and dependence on the abuser”.
More broadly, the dictionary defines the word thus: “The act or practice of grossly deceiving someone, especially for one’s own benefit. »
“Gaslighting” is a heinous tool frequently used by abusers in relationships — and by politicians and other news figures. This can happen between romantic partners, within an extended family unit, and between friends. It may be a corporate tactic or a way to mislead the public. There’s also “medical gaslighting,” when a medical professional dismisses a patient’s symptoms or illness as “all in your head.”
Despite its relatively recent prominence, the word was coined over 80 years ago with Gas Lighta 1938 play by Patrick Hamilton.
It was followed by two film adaptations in the 1940s. One, the film gas light by George Cukor in 1944, starred Ingrid Bergman as Paula Alquist and Charles Boyer as Gregory Anton. The two marry after a whirlwind romance and Gregory proves to be a champion of “cognitive diversion” to his wife. Among other examples, he insists that his complaints about the constant dimming of the gas lamps in their London townhouse are the fruit of his troubled mind. This was not the case.
Angela Lansbury’s death in October sparked some interest in searches for the word, Sokolowski said. She played Nancy Oliver, a young maid hired by Gregory Anton, who was told not to disturb his “nervous” wife.
The term “gaslighting” was later used by mental health practitioners to clinically describe a form of prolonged coercive control in abusive relationships.
Merriam-Webster, which sees 100 million page views per month on its site, chooses its word of the year based on data alone. Mr. Sokolowski and his team weed out the most frequently searched popular words to gauge which word received a significant boost over the previous year.