--- title: Good Decision Making From Astronauts, Samurai, Navy SEALs, Psychopaths description: We all make a lot of bad decisions. With careers: More than half of teachers quit their jobs within four years. In fact, one study... canonical: https://time.com/2951234/the-1-secret-astronauts-samurai-navy-seals-and-psychopaths-can-teach-you-about-good-decision-making/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-07-07T04:01:20.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:54:20.689Z article:section: Ideas og:title: The #1 Secret Astronauts, Samurai, Navy SEALs, and Psychopaths Can Teach You About Good Decision Making og:description: 150 Miles Above The Earth Is No Place For Panic og:url: https://time.com/2951234/the-1-secret-astronauts-samurai-navy-seals-and-psychopaths-can-teach-you-about-good-decision-making/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The #1 Secret Astronauts, Samurai, Navy SEALs, and Psychopaths Can Teach You About Good Decision Making twitter:description: 150 Miles Above The Earth Is No Place For Panic twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # The #1 Secret Astronauts, Samurai, Navy SEALs, and Psychopaths Can Teach You About Good Decision Making by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Jul 7, 2014 4:01 AM UTC by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Jul 7, 2014 4:01 AM UTC We all make a lot of [bad decisions](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/secrets-making-decisions/). With [careers](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307956393/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307956393&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- In [our jobs](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307956393/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307956393&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- And in [our personal lives](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307956393/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307956393&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- So how can we all make better decisions? **When** **_life and death_** **is on the line what methods do the pros consistently rely on?** **It’s “arousal control.”** **That’s a fancy word for keeping a cool head.** Ever been so angry — or so happy — you can’t think straight? Exactly. In their book, [Decisive](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307956393/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307956393&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20), Chip and Dan Heath identify short term emotion as [one of the primary causes of bad decisions](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/secrets-making-decisions/). Astronauts, samurai, Navy SEALs, and psychopaths. What can you learn from them about staying calm and making good decisions under pressure? ## 150 Miles Above The Earth Is No Place For Panic It’s the 1960′s and NASA is going to send people to the moon for the first time. A million things could go wrong. **How do you make sure astronauts don’t freak out in the cold darkness of space where there’s no help?** Ryan Holiday, author of [The Obstacle is The Way](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1B8K/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00G3L1B8K&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&linkId=Y6OFXQFJMP7KYFE6), wrote about [the challenges faced by the first moon landing crew](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1B8K/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00G3L1B8K&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&linkId=Y6OFXQFJMP7KYFE6): --- > “” --- You’re NASA. What do you do? The research shows one of the key ways to fight panic is to [have a feeling of control](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/08/fearlessness/). **Anything that provides** [**a feeling of control**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/10/how-can-you-significantly-reduce-job-stress/) **will improve performance and** [**help you make better decisions**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/10/life-threatening-situations-people-calm/) **when things go sideways.** And that’s exactly what NASA did. They systematically and repeatedly put the astronauts through everything they’d experience while in space. This level of familiarity produced a powerful feeling of [confidence](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1B8K/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00G3L1B8K&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&linkId=Y6OFXQFJMP7KYFE6): --- > “” --- This is why when top bomb disposal experts approach a bomb [their blood pressure actually goes _down_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/10/life-threatening-situations-people-calm/). Control and confidence. (More on what we can learn from astronauts [here.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/sleep-astronauts/)) Okay, I know what you’re thinking: _NASA had a billion dollars, the smartest people in the world and lots of time. I don’t, Eric._ I’m with you. But this same focus on arousal control has worked for almost a thousand years, with far fewer resources. Here’s how. ## The Most Important Samurai Training Doesn’t Involve A Sword What does the baddest samurai to ever carry a katana have to say about warfare? [Stay calm](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BIFLR1W/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BIFLR1W&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **Like astronauts, samurai knew the power of** [**a feeling of control**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/09/whats-the-key-to-dealing-with-stress/) **through training. But they had another trick up their sleeve.** **Emotional preparation.** Ryan Holiday [explains](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1B8K/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00G3L1B8K&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&linkId=Y6OFXQFJMP7KYFE6): --- > “” --- What did they do? Specifically, they thought about death. A lot. (No, I’m not recommending you get all emo. Stay with me.) **Thinking about the worst** **(and in their case it was having your head separated from your body)** **can** [**help you be calm and rational**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/the-art-of-negative-thinking/)**.** The [Stoics](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/ancient-philosophers/) did it, the [samurai](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/samurai/) did it, and every time you say “What’s the worst that could happen?” you do it too — whether you know it or not. (More on samurai methods for calm [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/samurai/).) So these methods may have worked 1000 years ago, they may have worked in the 1960′s… but isn’t the world different in the 21st century? No. No, it’s not. And the elite Navy SEALs are proof. ## What’s Special About Special Forces Go without food or sleep for days. Jump out of a plane at 35,000 feet. Trade gunfire with Al Qaeda in the mountains of Afghanistan while outnumbered. This is not what [Navy SEALs](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400046955/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400046955) call a nightmare. It’s what they call “Thursday.” [Kevin Dutton](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007NKN9U8/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007NKN9U8&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&linkId=3VZ57V3AOPITG2C2) and his friend, Andy (a former SAS soldier — the British equivalent of a SEAL) had their vital signs monitored during a study. Both were similar under normal circumstances. But what happened when they were exposed to stimuli that screamed “DANGER! TIME TO PANIC!”? Dutton’s brain went wild with fear. But his friend Andy’s response was [_very, very different_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007NKN9U8/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007NKN9U8&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&linkId=3VZ57V3AOPITG2C2): --- > “” --- Elite military units vet for [the toughest characters](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/02/interview-ranger-special-ops-explains-secrets-persistence-leadership/). And they go through punishing training. **But what silly little thing makes a huge difference?** [**Breathing**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2009/11/how-the-navy-seals-increased-passing-rates/)**. Yeah,** **_breathing_** **.** Teaching recruits to monitor their breathing helped [increase Navy SEAL passing rates from 25 to 33 percent](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2009/11/how-the-navy-seals-increased-passing-rates/). **Research shows** [**meditation**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/10/happier-increase-attention-span-courageous/)**\-style breathing can make you** [**courageous**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/07/can-you-learn-to-be-courageous/)**,** [**increase your attention span**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/07/how-can-you-increase-your-attention-span-in-a/)**, and even boost** [**happiness**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/10/happier-increase-attention-span-courageous/)**,** (More on the other three things that improved the performance of Navy SEALs[here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2009/11/how-the-navy-seals-increased-passing-rates/).) At this point you might feel like emotions are a total liability. Like effective decision making means you have to be the Terminator 24/7. Nope. Let’s learn about how to balance cold rationality with the power of emotion. Let’s look at [psychopaths](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/professions-most-fewest-psychopaths/). ## What You Can Learn From Stone Cold Killers What does it mean to be a psychopath? Often it means a congenital [lack of empathy](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/starbucks-employees-emotional-intelligence-doctor/). **So psychopaths aren’t raving and wild-eyed. Actually, in many ways they’re** [**_overly_** **rational**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/ceos-psychopaths/)**.** **When researchers make people play a betting game, who acts logically and isn’t swayed by irrational (but common) fears?** **Yup,** [**psychopaths**](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007NKN9U8/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007NKN9U8&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&linkId=3VZ57V3AOPITG2C2)**:** --- > “” --- **You may want your stockbroker to be a psychopath.** [**Seriously**](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007NKN9U8/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007NKN9U8&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&linkId=3VZ57V3AOPITG2C2)**:** --- > “” --- (More on which professions have the most psychopaths [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/professions-most-fewest-psychopaths/).) Oh, and I guess I should also mention some psychopaths, um, murder people… **So being extremely rational often leads to better decisions — but without some empathy it can also lead to some very bad things.** This might seem confusing. **How do you know just how rational to be?** ## For Best Results, Add Empathy **There’s a reason why they give it the name “arousal control.” You’re not trying to kill your emotions, you just want a leash on them.** You don’t want to be incapable of empathy. In fact, empathy, when controlled, can be an enormous positive when trying to make good decisions. We always think of doctors as [very rational](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/starbucks-employees-emotional-intelligence-doctor/). But **research shows doctors who feel empathy make better decisions.** Wharton professor and author of [Give and Take](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670026557/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0670026557&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&linkId=ZY2SQV6MPAAVJVYF), Adam Grant [explains](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-wharton-business-school-professor-teaches-approach-give/): --- > “” --- **At this point you may be saying:** **_Okay, okay, I’ve kept my cool — but what do I do now?_** **What’s fascinating is that same empathy also leads us to the next step of great decision making:** [**think about others**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/helping-happier/)**.** **The best, simplest method for making better decisions once you have a clear head is called “taking the outside perspective.”** **What’s that mean? Ask yourself, “**[**_What advice would I give my best friend in this situation?_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/secrets-making-decisions/)**“** Duke professor and author of [Predictably Irrational](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061353248/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061353248&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20), Dan Ariely [explains](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/interview-nyt-bestselling-author-dan-ariely-talks/): --- > “” --- So where does all this lead us? ## Next Stop: Wisdom The five step process for making better decisions: 1. **Maintain a feeling of control over your situation.** 2. **Emotional preparation. Consider how things could be worse.** 3. **Monitor your breathing.** 4. **Controlled empathy.** 5. **Ask “What advice would I give my best friend in this situation?”** **Can this style of decision making, over time, lead us to being not just smarter but wiser?** **Actually, it may be the only system that can.** We usually associate [wisdom](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/true-wisdom/)with knowledge, experience or smarts. But what does the research say? Yeah, those things are all important — but **we underestimate how much**[**wisdom is about understanding** ](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/true-wisdom/)[**_feelings_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/true-wisdom/)**_:_** --- > “” --- We’re not robots. We’re fundamentally emotional creatures and forgetting that fact is a huge mistake. We place so much emphasis on logic and yet the best decisions come from understanding our emotions and considering what is best for others. **Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD). Related posts: [4 Lifehacks From Ancient Philosophers That Will Make You Happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/ancient-philosophers/) [What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/) [How To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple Emails](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/make-your-life-better/) _This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/)_._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/2951234/the-1-secret-astronauts-samurai-navy-seals-and-psychopaths-can-teach-you-about-good-decision-making/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/2951234/the-1-secret-astronauts-samurai-navy-seals-and-psychopaths-can-teach-you-about-good-decision-making/"},"headline":"The #1 Secret Astronauts, Samurai, Navy SEALs, and Psychopaths Can Teach You About Good Decision Making","datePublished":"2014-07-07T04:01:20.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:54:20.689Z","description":"We all make a lot of bad decisions. 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