The term gaslighting derives from the 1938 play and 1944 film Gaslight, in which a husband manipulates his wife into thinking she has a mental illness by dimming their gas-fueled lights and telling her she is hallucinating.

Why do they call it gaslighting?

The term gaslighting originates from a 1938 play called Gas Light by Patrick Hamilton. ... As a result of the film's success, gaslighting has become a common way of describing emotional abuse or manipulation that causes one to question their sanity.

Who invented the term gaslighting?

The term "gaslighting" can be traced back to a 1938 play. British playwright Patrick Hamilton created "Gas Light," a mystery/thriller that premiered in London and played there for six months. But most folks familiar with the history of the term think back to the 1944 film adaptation of the play, "Gaslight."