There are a few powerful psychological and social forces that can make people believe things that are demonstrably false. Here are a couple.
Donald Trump knows this very well. He is a master at using these forces to his advantage in many cases stoking fear, anger and anxiety.
What I don’t understand is why people don’t check the facts before accepting what they are told or read.
30,573 false or misleading claims made by Donald Trump documented and still counting.
Are you subject to any of the following?
Cognitive Biases
Our brains use shortcuts (heuristics) to process information quickly. These shortcuts often distort how we judge truth:
- Confirmation bias: We pay more attention to information that supports what we already believe and dismiss what contradicts it.
- Motivated reasoning: When a belief aligns with our values or identity, we’ll work harder to defend it—even against solid evidence.
- Illusory truth effect: Hearing a claim repeatedly makes it feel more believable, even if it’s false.
- Availability heuristic: If an example is vivid or easy to recall (like a shocking story on the news), we tend to think it’s common or true.
Emotions Over Facts
Beliefs are often tied more to feelings than to logic:
- Fear and anxiety push people toward simple explanations or scapegoats.
- Hope or desire can make us accept things we want to be true (“wishful thinking”).
- Anger and outrage can make people reject inconvenient facts, especially if they see them as coming from an opposing group.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
What I don’t understand is why people don’t check the facts before accepting what they are told or read.
Many Americans are losing critical thinking skills- or are too lazy to question some of President Trump’s outrageous falsehoods. They don’t care if ICE agents wearing face masks are zip tying children- until it happens to them…
LikeLike
Al Lindquist
Of course you stood back and said or did nothing when millions crossed illegally–so what did you think would happen once the border was closed? They just get to stay just like you and your family would if you all walked into Canada?
You probably bought into all the “facts” I listed–I don’t understand how that happened to a smart fellow like you.
Ice agents wear masks because they are being doxed–there is even a bounty out for ice agents–the left is bat sh — crazy–twice in the last few months they have shot at agents in Dallas and rioted in numerous cities.
LikeLike
Al Lindquist:
my advice is use the word “we”–“are we subject to any of the following?”–excluding yourself says something about you–you are just as susceptible as the rest of us–your effluent smells like ours, your pants go on one leg at a time.
think of all the ones you fell for without checking the facts:
“the border is closed and only Fox News thinks it’s not”
“the president has no cognitive or physical issues”
“health care costs will be $2,500 and you can keep your doctor”
“we need to defund the cops and send in social workers”
“Hunter’s laptop is nothing more than Russian disinformation”
“if you don’t support the Lewis Voting Act you are a racist and want to go back to Jim Crow”
“everyone needs to pay their fair share “–other than Hunter who paid nothing.
“Afghanistan withdrawal was a great success”
LikeLiked by 1 person
sounds like you are talikng about Schumer & Jefferies
LikeLiked by 1 person