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4 Big Questions Scientists Have Answered About Why You Make Bad Decisions

Exposing the reasons for bad decisions that lead to regrets.

Victor Mong
8 min readJun 9, 2024
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Decisions are the building blocks of our lives.

From minor decisions, like choice of what to wear or eat for breakfast to life-changing ones, such as quitting a job or moving to a new country, every choice we make has the power to shape our future.

Nobody remembers when they make a good decision. The weight of a decision is often felt the most when it goes wrong.

Because the consequences of a bad decision can be devastating, researchers have looked into why people make bad decisions and have identified five key questions to understand this better.

Do Emotions Affect Decisions?

It’s not uncommon to hear people say something like, “Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment.”

People say this to emphasize how making decisions when you’re not in the best emotional state can impair your ability to think clearly and weigh your choices rationally.

Making decisions when you’re feeling calm and happy is totally different from when you’re tensed and angry.

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Victor Mong
Victor Mong

Written by Victor Mong

I write about human potential, building a life you want & mastering your mind || info.victormong@gmail.com

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