Despite 2023 being at a stone’s throw, some already dust off the predictions for its highlights. One significant contender is the term ‘gaslighting’ as pointed out in an article on JDSupra. This term has been bouncing on the tip of tongues worldwide and pricks our attention for a weighty reason: its pervasive presence in our lives and how it shapes our interactions.
Gaslighting is a phenomenon, not bound to boundaries, and has woven its way from personal relationships to politics, and into the professional hierarchy. With its increase in everyday vernacular, it’s no longer an estranged term for many. It has necessitated that all individuals – law professionals, corporate heads, and laypeople – understand its implications and how to navigate scenarios where it might occur.
The term ‘gaslighting’ speaks to a form of psychological manipulation that sows seeds of doubt in a person or group, making them question their memory, perception, sanity, or even their reality. In legal and professional workplaces, this tactic can be employed subtly and dangerously, affecting a victim’s self-esteem, confidence, and performance.
Through its prevalence, gaslighting has raised crucial discussions on ethical workplace conduct, interpersonal relationships, and mental health. While the term has negative connotations, the awareness it breeds is highly important. As we earnestly discuss and disseminate knowledge about the phenomenon, we can hope for workplaces and power dynamics that are molded with mutual respect and devoid of manipulative tactics.
In this context, the relevance of the term ‘gaslighting’ in 2023 doesn’t come merely as a linguistic trend, but as a societal call to address and rectify a prevailing and harmful practice. The prediction that this term might become the word of the year in 2023 could prove to be a catalyst in the conversations we need to have about manipulation, power, and control in our everyday lives.
While we’re a month short of entering 2023, this early hint at the word of the year serves as a pertinent reminder of the socio-legal issues we need to conquer. However, it remains to be seen whether ‘gaslighting’ will claim the title with merriam-webster or if another term will rise to infamous popularity.