Irrational investors

Xing Lu

Chapter 10 in Understanding Investment Risk and Return, 2025, pp 220-238 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter delves into key behavioral tendencies, such as risk aversion and loss aversion, which explain why investors sometimes prioritize psychological comfort over objective financial analysis. It also examines various behavioral biases like overconfidence, herding behavior, anchoring, and confirmation bias, all contributing to suboptimal investment decisions. Additionally, the chapter discusses market anomalies like the momentum effect and the low-volatility anomaly, challenging the notion of market efficiency. Human error, including operational risks and cognitive mistakes, further exacerbates irrational decision-making. By understanding these elements of behavioral finance, investors and financial professionals can better navigate market dynamics and develop strategies to improve decision-making and investment outcomes.

Keywords: Behavioral finance; Behavioral tendencies; Behavioral biases; Anomalies; Human error; Investment decisions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035339716
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