Trading Psychology: The 14 Stages of Investor Emotions (2024)

Efficient markets are based on the assumption that rational people enter transactions with the intent to maximize gains and minimize losses. While this theory is sound, most investors are not the purely rational robots that efficient markets rely upon. Instead, emotions often cloud our decision-making and prevent us from acting in a rational manner.

Knowing we can never conquer our inherent emotional biases, we should seek to understand the range of emotions we may experience as investors and how it affects our interactions with the market. A common market psychology cycle exists that shines light on how emotions evolve and the effect they have on our decisions. By understanding the stages of this cycle, we can tame the emotional roller coaster.

This stock market emotions chart illustrates the 14 stages of the investing journey. Do any of them sound familiar to you?

Trading Psychology: The 14 Stages of Investor Emotions (2)

  1. Optimism – A positive outlook encourages us about the future, leading us to buy stocks.
  2. Excitement – Having seen some of our initial ideas work, we begin considering what our market success could allow us to accomplish.
  3. Thrill – At this point, we investors cannot believe our success and begin to comment on how smart we are.
  4. Euphoria – This marks the point of maximum financial risk. Having seen every decision result in quick, easy profits, we begin to ignore risk and expect every trade to become profitable.
  5. Anxiety – For the first time the market moves against us. Having never stared at unrealized losses, we tell ourselves we are long-term investors and that all our ideas will eventually work.
  6. Denial – When markets have not rebounded, and we do not know how to respond, we begin denying either that we made poor choices or that things will not improve shortly.
  7. Fear – The market realities become confusing. We believe the stocks we own will never move in our favor.
  8. Desperation – Not knowing how to act, we grasp at any idea that will allow us to get back to break-even.
  9. Panic – Having exhausted all ideas, we are at a loss for what to do next.
  10. Capitulation – Deciding our portfolio will never increase again, we sell all our stocks to avoid future losses.
  11. Despondency – After exiting the markets, we do not want to buy stocks ever again. This often marks the moment of greatest financial opportunity.
  12. Depression – Not knowing how we could be so foolish, we are left trying to understand our actions.
  13. Hope – Eventually we return to the realization that markets move in cycles, and we begin looking for our next opportunity.
  14. Relief – Having bought a stock that turned profitable, our faith that there is a future in investing is renewed.

Individuals clearly follow this cycle in their decision-making process. Since broad indices like the S&P 500 reflect the decisions of millions of individuals, we should expect index prices to track this pattern as well.

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Key takeaway: If we are aware of the stage of the cycle we are experiencing at a given point in time, we will have a greater grasp of how our emotions are affecting our investment decisions. This knowledge will help us manage our own investment portfolios as well as predict the next step for the broad market.

Learn more: A great tool for building skills and learning how to invest more successfully is to keep a trading journal. I’ve rounded up my list of the picks for best trading journal apps here.

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Trading Psychology: The 14 Stages of Investor Emotions (2024)

FAQs

Is trading 70% psychology? ›

According to experts, successful trading is a result of 30% strategy and 70% of understanding Trading Psychology. So, if you are capable of handling your emotions and making full use of Trading, progress is not far for you in the Trading world.

What is the emotional cycle of trading? ›

While the emotional spectrum of a human being can be vast and deep, traders typically distinguish 14 key trading emotions. These usually come in cycles, from excitement and euphoria, to fear and panic, and then despondency and depression.

How do you fix trading psychology? ›

Conquer The Mental Game With These Time-tested Trading Psychology Tips
  1. #11 Don't Get Lost in the Numbers. ...
  2. #10 Accept That the Market Will Do What the Market Wants to Do. ...
  3. #9 Zoom Out In Review. ...
  4. #8 Cut Out the Noise. ...
  5. #7 Embrace the Risk. ...
  6. #6 Know When to Cash Out. ...
  7. #5 Know When You're Wrong. ...
  8. #4 If It Fits, Take It.

What is the psychology of trading summary? ›

Trading psychology is the emotional component of an investor's decision-making process, which may help explain why some decisions appear more rational than others. Trading psychology is characterized primarily by the influence of both greed and fear. Greed drives decisions that might be too risky.

Is trading really 50 50? ›

No! Not on random trades. Each result still has a 50% probability, no matter what outcomes came prior. The same is true of a coin toss—if it lands heads ten consecutive times, the probability of it landing on tails on the next toss is still 50%.

What is the 70 30 trading strategy? ›

The strategy is based on:

Portfolio management with 70% hedge and 30% spot delivery. Option to leave the trade mandate to the portfolio manager. The portfolio trades include purchasing and selling although with limited trading activity.

Why emotions mess with your trading? ›

Emotions can cloud judgment and reason to impulsive decisions, which can result in losses. By developing a trading plan, sticking to it, and control their emotions, traders can increase their chances of success in the market. Practice can make things easy and helps to master on it.

What are the most common emotions in trading? ›

Some of the most common emotions traders experience include fear, nervousness, conviction, excitement, greed and overconfidence. A common cause of fear is trading too big.

How to control emotions in trading? ›

Here are five ways to feel more in control of your emotions while trading.
  1. Create personal rules. Setting your own rules to follow when you trade can help you control your emotions. ...
  2. Trade the right market conditions. ...
  3. Lower your trade size. ...
  4. Establish a trading plan and trading journal. ...
  5. Relax!
Dec 21, 2022

How do I master my trading psychology? ›

By understanding and managing emotions, avoiding common pitfalls, and embracing individual strengths and weaknesses, traders can elevate their decision-making process. Through discipline, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence, you can unlock the potential of your trader DNA and develop a healthy trader mindset.

Who is the father of trading psychology? ›

Tharp. Dr. Van Tharp is remembered as a founding father of the field of trading psychology and one of the world's top trading coaches.

How to control greed in trading? ›

You should keep constant track of your investment. With that track, you should be able to assess all your investments and see whether they align with your planned goals or not. Having a trading journal of your investment can help you make analytical decisions while putting your emotions down.

Is trading 80 psychology? ›

Yet, after reading The Disciplined Trader (twice) I realised, in Mark Douglas's words. That successful trading is 80% psychological and only 20% method. It was the less obvious psychological aspects of trading. That in my first few years as a trader were letting me down.

What is greed in day trading? ›

In trading, greed can manifest in several ways: Overtrading: Entering multiple positions in the hope of maximizing gains, often without proper risk management. Ignoring risk management: Failing to adhere to stop-loss levels or position sizing guidelines in pursuit of larger profits.

What percentage of trading is psychology? ›

We frequently hear that trading is 80% psychology and 20% strategy. I've also read it in the forum in different threads, inparticular where people talk about the strategy being the least important part of trading and that there are profitable systems available and easy to find.

What is the psychological level of trading? ›

In trading, a psychological level is a price point in a financial market that holds significant psychological significance due to its round number (whole numbers that are multiples of 5, 10, 100, etc.) or key numeric value (price levels with market importance due to historical, technical, or trading activity reasons).

Is trading 90 psychology? ›

It is often said that trading is 90% mindset and 10% skills. Having the right mindset is essential for any successful trader, as it helps to build confidence and consistency in your trading decisions. The right mindset can help you make good decisions quickly, remain disciplined and stay focused.

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