The Bullied Brain

Gaslighting

When Faced With Liars, Skepticism Can Help

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on January 28, 2026

In intimate, workplace, and political relationships, gaslighting is being weaponized. But we can stay sane and safe when faced with liars.

In intimate, workplace, and political relationships, gaslighting is being weaponized. But we can stay sane and safe when faced with liars.

Gaslighting

Gaslighters Manipulate How Our Brains Predict

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on October 20, 2025

Our brains predict the future to support our navigation of a dynamic reality. Research studies the way gaslighters manipulate and exploit this brain mechanism to control us.

Our brains predict the future to support our navigation of a dynamic reality. Research studies the way gaslighters manipulate and exploit this brain mechanism to control us.

Gaslighting

Gaslighters Target Our Brains' Dependence on Others

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on October 6, 2025

Our brains evolved with a need to belong and a dependence on trusted others to co-create reality. This dependence puts us all at risk for gaslighting.

Our brains evolved with a need to belong and a dependence on trusted others to co-create reality. This dependence puts us all at risk for gaslighting.

Gaslighting

5 Strategies to Address Medical Gaslighting

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on August 28, 2025

Patients report that many doctors dismiss or misdiagnose their symptoms. Researchers have highlighted important strategies to sidestep this unintentional medical gaslighting.

Patients report that many doctors dismiss or misdiagnose their symptoms. Researchers have highlighted important strategies to sidestep this unintentional medical gaslighting.

Gaslighting

Gaslighters Tell You Abuse Is a Necessary Evil for Greatness

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on August 21, 2025

Those who gaslight want us to believe that their harmful conduct is needed for us to achieve greatness. Research reveals that this is a manipulative falsehood.

Those who gaslight want us to believe that their harmful conduct is needed for us to achieve greatness. Research reveals that this is a manipulative falsehood.

Gaslighting

Four Strategies to Defend Against Gaslighting at Work

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on August 11, 2025

Gaslighting thrives on making you feel unsafe at work. Research provides strategies to push back against those who want to manipulate you.

Gaslighting thrives on making you feel unsafe at work. Research provides strategies to push back against those who want to manipulate you.

Gaslighting

3 Key Drivers of Gaslighting

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on July 31, 2025

1. Separation insecurity.

1. Separation insecurity.

Gaslighting

Gaslighting Tries to Make You Bully Yourself

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on July 22, 2025

When we're bullied, and especially gaslit, we often look inward to find out what's wrong with us. Research shows we should be looking with attention and concern at the perpetrator.

When we're bullied, and especially gaslit, we often look inward to find out what's wrong with us. Research shows we should be looking with attention and concern at the perpetrator.

Gaslighting

Five Strategies to Expose Gaslighting at Work

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on July 17, 2025

Worried about being manipulated at work? Learn strategies to identify professional gaslighting and deception.

Worried about being manipulated at work? Learn strategies to identify professional gaslighting and deception.

Forgiveness

Forgive Your Bully, Restore Your Clarity

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on May 12, 2025

It feels impossible, and almost offensive, to forgive people who have harmed you. But when you commit to forgiveness, it brings a boost of clarity and empowerment.

It feels impossible, and almost offensive, to forgive people who have harmed you. But when you commit to forgiveness, it brings a boost of clarity and empowerment.

Neuroscience

Why Empathy Is the Foundation of Civilization

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on April 15, 2025

Empathy is being publicly derided as a deadly weakness. According to experts and extensive research, it's one of our greatest strengths.

Empathy is being publicly derided as a deadly weakness. According to experts and extensive research, it's one of our greatest strengths.

Workplace Dynamics

“Severance” Dramatizes Employees as Hostages

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on March 24, 2025

Why are the abused employees of the Apple TV+ series "Severance" bonding with their manipulative managers? The trapped employees display the symptoms of Stockholm Syndrome.

Why are the abused employees of the Apple TV+ series "Severance" bonding with their manipulative managers? The trapped employees display the symptoms of Stockholm Syndrome.

Repression

TV Show 'Severance' Dramatizes Suppression and Repression

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on February 24, 2025

The TV show 'Severance' exposes the mechanisms of workplace bullying. A requirement to suppress your emotions may well be a red flag that managers are, in fact, repressing their own.

The TV show 'Severance' exposes the mechanisms of workplace bullying. A requirement to suppress your emotions may well be a red flag that managers are, in fact, repressing their own.

Gaslighting

The TV Series Severance Dramatizes Workplace Mental Illness

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on January 29, 2025

Focused on mental illness at work, season one of the TV series Severance garnered critical acclaim. It links mental illness directly to workplace bullying and gaslighting.

Focused on mental illness at work, season one of the TV series Severance garnered critical acclaim. It links mental illness directly to workplace bullying and gaslighting.

Bullying

How the TV Series 'Severance' Dramatizes Workplace Bullying

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on January 27, 2025

When a workplace is built on bullying and responds with gaslighting, you can feel torn in two. 'Severance' dramatizes the destructive impact of workplace abuse on the brain.

When a workplace is built on bullying and responds with gaslighting, you can feel torn in two. 'Severance' dramatizes the destructive impact of workplace abuse on the brain.

Environment

Nature: A Remedy for the Bullying Epidemic

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on December 29, 2024

Bullying is at epidemic proportions but a powerful remedy is readily available: nature, in all its forms.

Bullying is at epidemic proportions but a powerful remedy is readily available: nature, in all its forms.

Bullying

Those Who Bully Use Kindness to Manipulate

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on November 28, 2024

Those who bully may be masters at using kindness as a way to groom higher-ups and beneficiaries. Learn seven strategies to protect against this textbook manipulation.

Those who bully may be masters at using kindness as a way to groom higher-ups and beneficiaries. Learn seven strategies to protect against this textbook manipulation.

Leadership

From Principals to CEOs, Kindness Gets Results

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on November 18, 2024

Are you looking for a way to take your leadership to the next level? Have you tried kindness? Sounds almost too easy, but the research shows it's a game-changer.

Are you looking for a way to take your leadership to the next level? Have you tried kindness? Sounds almost too easy, but the research shows it's a game-changer.

Bullying

Bullying Hurts Your Health. Kindness Boosts It.

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on November 13, 2024

Our brain and body health are impacted by whether or not we bully others or treat them with kindness. Bullying puts your health at risk while kindness gives it a boost.

Our brain and body health are impacted by whether or not we bully others or treat them with kindness. Bullying puts your health at risk while kindness gives it a boost.

Bullying

Can We Reduce Bullying by Seeing It as a Stress Response?

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on August 14, 2024

What if bullying was addressed from a stress response perspective? Looking through this lens opens up the possibilities to remedy bullying conduct.

What if bullying was addressed from a stress response perspective? Looking through this lens opens up the possibilities to remedy bullying conduct.