It’s All in Your Head

Personality Traits and Gaslighting Tactics in Intimate Relationships

Bibliographic Data

ID6435486
AuthorsEvita March (0009-0004-7077-0980, Federation University, corresponding author), Cameron S Kay (0000-0002-5210-427X, University of Oregon), Bojana M Dinić (0000-0002-5492-2188, University of Novi Sad), Danielle Wagstaff (0000-0002-5117-0056, Federation University), Beáta Grabovac (0000-0002-9963-5668, University of Novi Sad), P K Jonason (0000-0002-8833-048X, University of Padua)
Year2023
Volume40
Issue2
Pages259-268
Publication date2023-06-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Family Violence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0885-7482 • E-ISSN: 1573-2851
PublisherSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s10896-023-00582-y
OpenAlexW4381798866
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited61

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; M age = 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

Big Five personality traits · Dark triad · Developmental psychology · Machiavellianism · Narcissism · Personality · Personality disorders · Psychopathy · Sadistic personality disorder · Clinical Psychology · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Psychology · Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending · Social Psychology · Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment

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