More and more Australians are moving into community living. Studies show that living in a residential or retirement community offers more social connection, a sense of belonging and opportunites to participate in activities. Community living helps to reduce social isolation and generate resident wellbeing. There's lot of upside to community living.
While many community living entities have standards and agreements about resident behaviour, there is scant published research on the prevalence of less than desirable resident behaviours.
Largely invisible behaviours, like gaslighting and white anting, can be difficult to expose and eradicate. Where there is no hard evidence, a person subject to such behaviours may find them difficult to report, even when they cause mental anguish.
The purpose of this ground breaking research is to:
1. establish the prevalence of two types of anti-community behaviour; gaslighting and white anting (see below for definitions)
Gaslighting is a form of manipulation that is motivated by the desire to control another person. A gaslighter erodes their victim’s confidence by leading them to constantly doubt their own sanity, memory, intelligence and self-worth. Read more at What is gaslighting White anting is an Australian slang term coined in work places, business circles and politics. Put simply, white anting is a form of sabotage with a strategy to weaken a person's status or standing by undermining or attacking their reputation. Read more at Understanding white anting
2. understand the impacts of gaslighting and/or white anting on those living in residential, retirement communities, apartment blocks and similar living arrangements, and then
3. develop strategies to help residents to deal with gaslighting and/or white anting in their community.
In this research, we are particularly interested in understanding your experience of gaslighting and/or white anting where you live eg residential, retirement community, apartment block, cul de sac or any other close or co-housing community.
If you have experienced gaslighting and/or white anting where you currently live, we would appreciate your help by completing this strictly confidential questionnaire. By sharing your story, you will anonymously assist us to address gaslighting and/or white anting in residential communities and help others to deal with it.
The feedback we receive about these practices will remain anonymous. Data will be aggregated and used to make recommendations that may inform the future design and lay out of residential communities, and/or development of policy, standards of behaviour etc in all types of residential community.
Please note this is independently funded research with no association with any tertiary education or commercial entity.
Thank you for your participation.
