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Glossary · PSX term

Loss aversion.

Loss aversion is the tendency to feel losses more painfully than equivalent gains.

Definition

Because losing feels worse than winning feels good, investors may hold losers too long and sell winners too early to avoid the pain of realising a loss. Recognising this bias helps with more rational decisions.

Worked example

Holding a losing stock hoping to break even, while quickly selling a small winner, reflects loss aversion.

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