Home > Investing Basics > Beginner
Investing Basics Beginner: Psychology and Investing

Test your knowledge

Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer to each question.

0%
Keep studying!
Review your answers below to learn more.
1.
If you find yourself habitually buying shares of a company that has treated you well in the past, even when the data suggest it would be unwise, you could be operating under confirmation bias.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
True. Though its not always a bad thing, investing against the reality of the company can sometimes be detrimental.
2.
When you judge an investment by objective standards rather than your own personal ones, you are practicing what is called "anchoring."
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
False. Anchoring is the other way around, and in some cases it can lead to costly losses.
3.
In investing, self-handicapping might be considered the opposite of _______.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
Overconfidence. Self-handicapping involves looking for excuses beforehand to explain why something might not work. If it indeed does not work, we have handicapped ourselves.
4.
Investors who exhibit "herding" behavior tend to think that other investors have more information than they do.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
True. Herding refers to investing along with the crowd. This usually entails believing that others have information that you dont.
5.
The framing effect can lead you to treat buying decisions in relative terms.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
True. This effect can affect the choices you make when you buy investments.
6.
In the world of investing, what does overconfidence refer to?
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
The ability to think that one is smarter than one really is. Overconfidence stretches normal confidence to unhealthy levels.
7.
Mental accounting refers to _______.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
Keeping our money in different buckets for different purposes. While this practice is often beneficial, it can sometimes lead to wasteful spending depending on how we view those buckets.
8.
If you are holding two beliefs that are seemingly at odds with each other and you are uncomfortable doing so, then you are suffering from _______.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
Cognitive dissonance. Because of the discomfort, you will need a way to resolve the dissonance.
9.
A way to describe the psychological concept of loss aversion is this: strongly preferring to avoid losses over acquiring gains.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
True. This behavior can in some cases cause you to lose money.
10.
The sunk costs fallacy refers to _______.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
Being unable to ignore the sunk costs of an investment. Being unable to ignore these costs could lead to holding onto the investment well past the time to sell it.