Category Archives: gaslighting

Love Bombing Is Covert Aggression

Love bombing has little to do with genuine love. It’s a tactic to charm, disarm, and seduce you into doing what you otherwise might not.

Malformed Conscience and Character Disturbance

When a malformed conscience, virtually nonexistent conscience, or absent conscience lies defines someone’s character pathology, intervening in traditional ways is futile. That’s why it’s so important that toxic relationship survivors, who have most likely already endured years of gaslighting and other trauma, get the right kind of help should they manage to drag their character-impaired partner into therapy.

Discerning Character Requires Certain Skills

Discerning decency of character in our times is a challenge. With all manner of character dysfuntion “normalized,” we’ve largely become desensitized, even to the most egregious forms.

Narcissistic Rages and Their Forms and Causes

Narcissistic rages are common in abusive relationships. But characterizing every rager as “thin-skinned” is a potentially fatal mistake.

Narcissists Exaggerate Just About Everything

Narcissists exaggerate to advance their image-promoting agendas. Tolerating or enabling this behavior harms everyone, even the narcissist.

Impression Management Skill and Gaslighting

Impression management skill and gaslighting often go hand-in-hand. When others don’t see your nemesis the same way you have come to see them, it can make you feel crazy, which is what the gaslighting effect is all about.

Behind The Veil of Civility

A covert character’s true character often lies behind a veil of civility. Liked by others, you feel crazy for sensing the worst.

The Concept of Brainwashing Revisited

Perhaps the most common brainwashing technique is indoctrination through constant repetition of a limited set of ideas while simultaneously discouraging or disparaging alternative thinking.

Character Matters LIve Podcast Changes

There will be no live podcasts of Character Matters June 18 or July 2. Pre-recorded programs and a new article will post weekly on the blog.

Abusive Relationships Exist along a Spectrum Too

The more seriously disturbed in character someone is, the more abusive a relationship partner they’re likely to be.