[In-person] Curiosity Café – Gaslighting

Gaslighting: perhaps one of the biggest and most controversial buzzwords of the last decade. Merriam-Webster’s ‘Word of the Year' in 2022. We use it to refer to everything from the public spread of misinformation, to the denial of another person’s point of view, to one of most damaging and insidious forms of psychological abuse. But despite the term’s recent explosion in popularity, there is no consensus on where the boundaries of gaslighting actually lie.

Get your flashlights ready for our next café: it’s time to shine a light on this elusive concept! Join co-moderators Jaylen Stark and Sophia Whicher to explore the who, what, why, and how of gaslighting by considering questions such as:

• How does gaslighting impact a person’s trust in themselves and those around them?
• What is the difference between gaslighting and trying to convince someone they’re wrong?
• Can you gaslight someone with a single statement, or does gaslighting need to be repeated/reinforced over time?
• Can you gaslight someone unintentionally?
• Who can gaslight? Who can be gaslit?
• Is gaslighting only done through words? What role do body language, tone, and actions play in gaslighting behaviour?
• What makes gaslighting distinctive from other forms of psychological and verbal abuse?

Disclaimer: due to the nature of this topic, there is a likelihood that heavy subject matter and/or personal stories of abuse may arise over the course of this event. While we will try our best to establish clear guidelines regarding etiquette in group discussions and facilitators will continue to offer check-ins for those in attendance, facilitators are not equipped to professionally assist in the processing of personal traumas or triggers related to gaslighting. Please be advised.

Space is limited! Please obtain a “Pay-What-You-Can” ticket from Curiosity Café at this link (click here) to attend this event. You need a ticket to be admitted. See the above link for more info about tickets and other options including a limited number of free tickets. Come and hang out with us, grab food, and read through our handout from 6-6:30pm. Our structured discussion will run from 6:30-8:30pm with a 10 minute break in the middle.

Hope to see you there!

(Image from the 1944 movie Gaslight.)

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This event is brought to you by Being and Becoming, a Toronto based non-profit. We aim to create community around exploring everyday concepts and experiences so that we may live more intentional, thoughtful, and meaningful lives. We use philosophy as a tool with which we can come to a richer understanding of the world around us.

By offering activities, spaces, and other opportunities for conversation and co-exploration, we hope to enable the meeting and fusion of individuals and their ideas. Everyone is welcome, regardless of background: indeed, we believe the journey is best undertaken alongside explorers from a variety of disciplines, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

Find out more about Being and Becoming here.

About the Curiosity Café Series:

For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to join us at our Curiosity Cafés and are wondering what they’re all about: every two weeks, we invite members of our community to come out to the Madison Avenue Pub to engage in a collaborative exploration of our chosen topic. Through these events, we aim to build our community of people who like to think deeply about life’s big questions, and provide each other with some philosophical tools to dig deeper into whatever it is we are most curious about.