People Think These Are The Worst Single Decisions In History Ever Made By A Person

Choices made by individuals can sometimes have huge impacts and end up causing a lot of chaos and destruction. Whenever someone decides to do something, they rarely make a big deal out of it, and they often don't even think twice before going through with it. That's when something significant ends up happening. 

Many people in history single-handedly created major problems that affected the world for years, which shows how dangerous it is to rush your decisions without thinking them through. Choices have consequences, so they should never be taken lightly.

Reddit user u/Benemir asked people in the r/AskReddit subreddit, "Which is the worst single decision in history ever made by a person?" and received some pretty interesting replies.

1. Mao Zedong

“Pest campaign: He basically told his nation to take pots and pans to kill all the sparrows. However, the ecosystem was disturbed, and the locust population skyrocketed.Seeds: He thought that planting seeds 1 meter in the ground would result in greater roots and better harvests. He also believed that putting tons of seeds in one compact area would lead to a better harvest. All the seeds died, however. Around 30 million people died from famine under his rule.“Hey! Look at the other nations industrializing! Let's smelt all our metal to build better infrastructure. What? It creates pig iron, which is super unstable and impure, therefore ultimately useless? Oops!” -Mao

Psychological Impacts of Decision-Making

Research indicates that decision-making under uncertainty can lead to significant anxiety and regret, particularly when consequences are severe. According to Dr. Daniel Goleman, an expert in emotional intelligence, "Our emotions can hijack our rational thinking, leading to decisions that we may later regret." Understanding these cognitive biases, such as overconfidence and loss aversion, can help individuals adopt a more reflective approach. Strategies like pausing to consider alternatives and seeking diverse perspectives can mitigate impulsive choices, as noted by Malcolm Gladwell, who emphasizes the importance of "taking the time to think through our options to avoid hasty decisions."

2. Invading England

“The decision by the Scots to invade England during the Black Death must be up there.”

3. Killing Elephants

“Allan Savory, the ecologist who killed 40,000 elephants because it was believed that grazing was causing the desertification of Africa, later found out that elephants were essential to prevent desertification.”

4. Very bad move

“Eastman Kodak deciding not to move forward with their own newly invented digital cameras and instead sticking with film because it made them so much money at the time.”

5. Just a dollar

“The guy who sold the bottling rights for Coca-Cola for $1 and never even made the guy pay the $1.”

6. Steve Jobs' Co-Founder

“Maybe not the *worst*, but Ronald Wayne, who was a co-founder of Apple along with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. Just 12 days after forming the company, he sold his shares for $800. He owned 10% of the company, which would be worth ~$80,000,000,000 (80 billion) today.”

7. The guy who discovered Titanic

“Robert Ballard, one of the individuals who discovered the Titanic, says that his biggest regret is that he and Jean-Louis Michel didn’t bring a piece of the Titanic up with them when they first discovered it in 1985. At the time, they didn’t want to disturb the wreck and leave it pristine. However, if they had done so, they would have been able to claim legal ownership of the wreck under international maritime law, and therefore have more control over it.Because they chose not to do that, everyone and their grandma is free to take artifacts and pieces of the wreck, making preservation impossible.A fair number of people have been asking this in the comments, so instead of replying to everyone individually, I thought I’d put this in as an edit. Thanks to the commenters who helped explain this!There is a school of thought that Robert Ballard (and I, incidentally) subscribe to, which holds that the wreck is the final resting place of the more than 1,500 souls who perished that cold night on April 14, 1912, and must therefore be treated with the same respect and dignity.Private companies that take artifacts and pieces of the wreck and sell them for profit are effectively grave-robbing. While the wreck is gradually deteriorating into nothing, the argument is that this doesn’t matter – it’s just nature taking its course. Of course, there is the argument that removing certain artifacts from the wreck and placing them in a museum is conducive to both the public good and the memory of the victims. Personally, I don’t have a problem with that, and I can’t speak for Robert Ballard.However, I do have a problem with the commercial scavengers taking pieces to sell them. My understanding is that if he and his team were the registered owners of the wreck, he would have a claim to anything taken from the wreck and sold for profit, which would potentially deter people.”

8. Dividing India and Pakistan

“Radcliffe Line – The process to divide the India-Pakistan boundary in 1947 was done hastily and without major consideration for the local populace's religion. Radcliffe was not a geography expert and significantly messed up the process. Millions died.”

9. The painting would have been worth millions upon millions today

“My great-great-grandfather, a carpenter, did some work for a poor painter in the neighborhood. The painter had no money, so he offered either a bottle of wine or a painting. My great-great-grandfather chose the wine.The painter was Edvard Munch, and the painting would have been worth millions upon millions today, or even just a few decades later (if translated to today's money).”

10. The Brother Of Jesus Christ

“Hong Xiuquan declared the Taiping Rebellion after he had a nervous breakdown from failing the imperial examinations. He proclaimed that he was the brother of Jesus Christ. Between 20 and 30 million people died.”

11. Kaiser Wilhelm II firing Otto von Bismarck

“Kaiser Wilhelm II firing Otto von Bismarck. Bismarck had a plan. He always had a plan. But not when an incompetent Kaiser boots him out of his means of putting his plans into action. Bismarck had everything set up perfectly, but Wilhelm II decided to mess up everything he had arranged and got into World War I because of it.”

12. Cannibal Pioneers

“The Donner Party of 90 pioneers chose to take a shortcut when heading west from Illinois to California in 1846. This shortcut led to them getting trapped in the Sierra Nevada mountains and resorting to cannibalism.”

13. Brutus joining Cassius in murdering Caesar

“Brutus decided to join Cassius in murdering the dictatorial tyrant, Caesar. The reason? They suspected his intent to become a king.This then started a chain of events leading to his adopted son Caesar becoming a military dictator without equal, having all the powers of a king without being called one.When this Caesar Augustus died, his name and title were passed on for the next four hundred years, almost like one would pass a crown. Monarchies then returned all over Europe in the style of Augustus Caesar.Thus, the decision of Brutus to join the conspiracy effectively changed all of Western civilization for the next 1,900 years to adopt the very political style he wanted to avoid.It would not be until the 1770s when America and later France would begin revolting and experimenting with democracies and republics.”

14. Never a good idea

“Let’s invade Russia” must be somewhere up the list. Twice.”

15. "Gavrillo Princip shooting Archduke Franz Ferdinand."

“On that day, a man acted upon his self-constructed vendetta against a non-tyrannical monarch, thinking the world would remember him as a symbol against foreign tyranny, a symbol of national sovereignty.A year later, 10 million men were dead.”

Exploring Regret and Decision-Making

A cognitive psychologist at Yale University describes how regret often stems from our decision-making processes, particularly under uncertainty.

Studies show that individuals frequently analyze past decisions through a lens of hindsight bias, leading to feelings of regret when outcomes diverge from expectations.

This reflection can trigger a cycle of negative emotions, emphasizing the importance of understanding our cognitive biases when evaluating past choices.

Research highlights the psychological concept of 'loss aversion,' where individuals feel the pain of a bad decision more acutely than the pleasure of a good one.

This aversion can lead to decision paralysis in future situations, as people fear making another mistake.

To combat this, experts recommend reframing how we view decisions by focusing on the learning opportunities they present rather than solely on their outcomes.

Psychological Analysis

These reflections on poor decisions often illuminate deeper psychological patterns, such as fear of failure or perfectionism. It's crucial to approach these feelings with self-compassion and recognize that every decision contributes to our growth.

Analysis generated by AI

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

Understanding the psychology of regret and decision-making provides valuable insights into human behavior.

Embracing our past decisions as learning experiences can foster resilience and enhance future decision-making skills.

A clinical psychologist notes that the emotional fallout from poor decisions can be profound, often leading to self-blame and diminished self-esteem. Studies show that individuals who engage in self-reflection rather than self-criticism tend to recover more effectively from regrettable choices.

Practicing self-compassion, as outlined by researchers like Dr. Kristin Neff, can foster resilience and promote a healthier mindset. By reframing mistakes as learning opportunities, individuals can cultivate a growth mindset that encourages better future decision-making.

Behavioral Analysis & Pathways Forward

Understanding the psychological underpinnings of decision-making can illuminate why certain choices lead to significant consequences. Research from behavioral psychology emphasizes the importance of cognitive awareness and emotional regulation in improving decision outcomes.

Incorporating reflective practices and emotional intelligence can empower individuals to make more thoughtful choices. As noted in studies by the American Psychological Association, establishing a balance between intuition and analysis can lead to better long-term results, ultimately fostering personal growth and accountability.