Why do denialists delude themselves?
Why do people fervently embrace vaccine denialism, climate denialism and even election denialism? It’s only partly because they find these delusional beliefs comforting. The real reason is because belief in fantastical delusions has become a form of identity signaling, advertising membership in a particular social group. Denialism is a form of social identity signaling. He starts with the example of a member of the “Exclusive Brethren”: … I would try to talk to him about his beliefs, but he simply refused to engage. The Exclusive Brethren have withdrawn from all conversation with the ...
Source: skepticalob.com