RESILIENCE IN WOMEN VICTIMS OF GASLIGHTING-TYPE PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

With the objective of presenting the state of the art of published research on how gaslighting-type psychological violence is treated and recognized and the resilience processes experienced by women victims of this phenomenon, this study used a qualitative methodological design, based on an integrative review of the national and international literature with the support of a six-step protocol. The databases used were: PubMed, BVS, Web Of Science and Scientifc Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Sage Journals. The results indicated a definition of gaslighting as a strategy of emotional and psychic manipulation of the reality and life of the victims, based on the imbalance of power, with a great contribution of gender roles, which operates with social endorsement, loaded with power and authority against the vulnerability of the victim. In addition, all studies showed that psychological suffering was a common point as a major cause of intimate partner violence. The phenomenon of resilience, on the other hand, is understood as characteristics and attributes inherent to the person, taking into account personal, family, social and environmental factors as a way of coping with gaslighting as a transformative process. It is concluded that the study contributes to bring light to the phenomenon of gaslighting as the main violence committed against women. It presents the great and real need to investigate psychological violence of the gaslighting type, as well as resilience, so that women can not only identify psychological abuse, but also resignify their lives beyond being victims of this phenomenon.