Gaswashing is a predicament that crosses the definitions of Brainwashing and
Gaslighting into a
single category where one uses a combination of teaching a point of view that lacks sufficient evidence to be true and (often deliberately) manipulating another into doubting their own viewpoints and sanity to the point of threatening and intimidating the other into a psychologically
submissive state where the victim is unable to willingly argue or fight back against the accuser.
Gaswashing differs from Brainwashing in that the victim is not in a conditioned state to believe and/or accept the accuser’s viewpoint as
valid truth, but instead of accepting any form of criticism, the accuser escalates their dedication to the viewpoint that they have dictated for themselves, and (often consciously) switches to
Gaslighting techniques to silence, intimidate or even harm the victim as retribution for not accepting their flawed viewpoints.
Gaswashing can be different from
Gaslighting in that it is more often done consciously rather than unconsciously. The accuser will often refuse to back down at any form of criticism or scrutiny, preferring to force their viewpoint against any form of dissent aimed against them. Even if an opposing viewpoint were to have such validity outside those of the accuser, the accuser will more likely attempt to shut any such viewpoint down regardless of how much strength or exterior validity their opposing viewpoint would be likely to hold elsewhere.
e.g.: "A
dictator will often punish those in their cabinet who have let them down with a
fate worse than death known as Gaswashing. Because they know too much, the victim will be shouted at, tortured and intimidated into confessing to their alleged flaws. In the end, they are stripped of any motivation to conflict with their boss. This will happen if the
dictator feels that imprisonment is not enough, and decides to
set an example to be demonstrated to the rest of the cabinet so that they know not to challenge their authority again like the
person or party before them."
e.g.: "Despite your claims, you continue to repeat the same cycle over and over and blame me for not being faithful enough to fix the problems that come with it. That’s not brainwashing, that’s not even gaslighting, That Is Gaswashing!"
