Several psychological factors contribute to individuals like James Regan believing in their deceptive narratives. One key factor is narcissism, where a person has an inflated sense of self-importance and believes they are above rules or societal norms. Additionally, cognitive dissonance plays a role as these individuals may rationalize their deceitful behavior by convincing themselves that they are justified or have been wronged in some way. Moreover, confirmation bias leads them to seek out information that supports their false beliefs while disregarding contradictory evidence. This combination of traits creates a distorted self-image where deception becomes normalized and even perceived as virtuous.