A 2023 study introduces the Gaslighting at Work Questionnaire, identifying 12 common manipulative tactics by supervisors that leave employees doubting themselves and emotionally drained.
Researchers have developed a new tool to measure gaslighting in professional environments, identifying subtle but damaging tactics supervisors use to manipulate subordinates.
Gaslighting, a form of psychological manipulation where individuals are made to question their reality, has long been difficult to identify at work. According to the Gaslighting at Work Questionnaire (GWQ), published in 2023, such behaviors thrive in hierarchical workplaces where authority often shields perpetrators from accountability.
The GWQ outlines two key dimensions of gaslighting: trivialization, where employee concerns are minimized or mocked, and affliction, where supervisors use blame, unpredictability, or control. By rating experiences on a scale from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree,” workers can assess whether they may be facing gaslighting.
Examples include situations where “your supervisor told you that you were ‘imagining’ things” or “your supervisor undermined your complaints.” Other patterns involve alternating praise with belittlement, denying past promises, and twisting employee statements. Researchers warn these tactics create emotional exhaustion, erode trust, and push employees into cycles of self-doubt.
“Emotional depletion is rarely random,” the study notes, urging employees to recognize the signs before the manipulation affects both professional and personal well-being.