Gaslighting may arise from normal learning processes misfiring in close relationships, according to a Personality and Social Psychology Review framework by Willis Klein, PhD, and colleagues. Using prediction error minimization theory, the authors propose that gaslighters exploit trust by repeatedly creating false “prediction errors,” causing victims to doubt their perceptions. Risk factors include anxious attachment and low self-esteem. Recovery centers on restoring self-trust through mindfulness, creative pursuits, and supportive relationships.