"Lampshading" and "gaslighting" are both terms related to psychological manipulation and communication, but they refer to different concepts and behaviors:
- Lampshading: Lampshading is a communication technique where a person acknowledges or addresses a potential problem or issue in a situation, but then immediately dismisses it or downplays its significance. This is done in an attempt to divert attention away from the issue and avoid discussing it further. The term "lampshading" comes from the idea that the person is attempting to cover up or hide the issue in a manner similar to how a lampshade covers and hides a lamp's light source.
Example of lampshading: Person A: "I heard you were out really late last night. Is everything okay?" Person B: "Oh, it was just a small gathering with friends. Nothing important."
In this example, Person B acknowledges the fact that they were out late but downplays the significance of the gathering to avoid discussing any potential problems or concerns.
- Gaslighting: Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation where one person seeks to make another person doubt their own perceptions, memories, or sanity. The gaslighter may distort facts, deny events that occurred, or provide false information to undermine the victim's confidence in their own understanding of reality. The term originates from the play and movie "Gas Light," where a husband manipulates his wife into believing she is going insane by altering elements of their environment and then insisting that she is imagining things.
Example of gaslighting: Person A: "You promised to help me with the project, but you didn't show up." Person B: "I never said that. You must be confused. You're always forgetting things."
In this example, Person B is trying to make Person A doubt their memory and make them feel like they are unreliable.
In summary, lampshading involves acknowledging an issue briefly but dismissing it quickly, while gaslighting involves manipulating someone's perception of reality to make them doubt their own sanity or understanding of events. Both are manipulative communication techniques, but they operate differently and have distinct effects on the recipient.