2. “I Never Said That”

The Tactic: Gaslighting

Gaslighting is a slow-motion erosion of your reality. A partner may deny a promise they made yesterday or claim a conversation never happened. In severe cases, they may even hide objects or stage events to make you question your sanity.

The Psychology: This technique creates cognitive dissonance—a state of mental discomfort caused by holding two conflicting beliefs (e.g., “I remember he said this” vs. “He is so adamant he didn’t”). To resolve this tension, victims often surrender their own memory to preserve the relationship.