* Confirmation bias: This is the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, while ignoring information that contradicts them. Confirmation bias can lead us to believe things that are not true simply because we want them to be true.
* Groupthink: This is the tendency to conform to the opinions of the group we belong to, even if we don't necessarily agree with them. Groupthink can lead us to believe things that are not true simply because everyone else believes them.
* Selective perception: This is the tendency to focus on certain aspects of a situation while ignoring others. Selective perception can lead us to believe things that are not true because we are only seeing part of the picture.
* Wishful thinking: This is the tendency to believe things that we want to be true, even if there is no evidence to support them. Wishful thinking can lead us to believe things that are not true because we are simply hoping they are true.
* Misinformation: This is information that is false or inaccurate. Misinformation can be spread unintentionally (such as through a misunderstanding) or intentionally (such as through propaganda). Misinformation can lead us to believe things that are not true because we are trusting information that is not reliable.
It is important to be aware of the factors that can lead us to drift away from the truth so that we can be more critical of our own beliefs and more open to new information.