Gaslighting and mind-games

Gaslighting is a tactic to make people doubt themselves and their experience, and to  adapt to the person who is gaslighting them.

Gaslighting  is used to promote their viewpoints, cast blame, sow doubt and fear, and create an alternate reality that serves their needs and desires.  They also gaslight by denying their behaviour was inappropriate, or by making others responsible for the effects of their behaviour. Gaslighting creates an alternative story or reason why things have happened, and people using bullying behaviour work from the premise that the more you say something is true, eventually people will stop challenging it and submit to it. Gaslighting is a form of personal propaganda that serves the needs of the  person who is bullying and allows them to escape accountability for their behaviour.

Mind games are an extension of gaslighting. They involve denial, blame and minimisation. A typical mind game is to change the subject or accuse when challenged about bullying. The person bullying raises an issue of performance when they are challenged about their behaviour.