Gaslighting and the Petito Case: Assessing Risk Factors for Law Enforcement
Psychological abuse can look like many things. It is the tool for abusers and sex offenders to belittle and control their victim. The term “gaslighting” has been used to describe the techniques and process of psychologically controlling and abusing victims. Gaslighting refers to the more serious and extreme form of psychological force/abuse, commonly used by physical abusers, child molesters, human traffickers, and rapists to confuse their victims into believing that the abuse, assault or rape was the victim’s fault. The perpetrator uses gaslighting to make their victim less credible and appear psychologically unstable. In the same way, the perpetrator makes themselves appear to others as a caring victim of their victim, innocent of any wrongdoing. The recent case of Gabby Petito in Florida (2021) highlights the need for law enforcement and the public to gain an understanding of gaslighting and a better understanding of abuse in general.
