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.
In investing, sunk costs refer to costs that have already been incurred.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
True. If the costs of an investment are high, we might become reluctant to dump it due to how much we have put into it.
2.
What does representativeness lead to?
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
Giving too much weight to recent performance. Representativeness is a mental shortcut that causes investors to give too much weight to recent evidence--such as short-term performance numbers--and too little weight to evidence from the more distant past. For instance, a look at a companys profit trends over the past six years is likely to yield more insight than looking at that companys stock performance over the past six months.
3.
The practice of herding refers to _______.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
Going along with the crowd. This is the practice of buying and selling based on the fact that it is popular to do so at the time.
4.
A disadvantage of "anchoring" behavior in investing is that you might hold onto an investment longer than you should, given the fundamentals of the company behind it.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
True. As an investor, you might stick with an investment in order to wait for a point at which it will be "worth it" to you, which might lead to a loss on it.
5.
Self-handicapping bias occurs when we try to explain any possible future poor performance with a reason that may or may not be true.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
True. In other words, its like making excuses beforehand.
6.
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.
7.
In investing, overconfidence means thinking that we are more capable than we really are.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
True. Overconfidence is an unhealthy extension of confidence.
8.
With regard to investing behavior, mental accounting refers to following the crowd.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
False. Mental accounting refers to keeping ones money in different buckets for different purposes.
9.
Confirmation bias is a good investing practice to follow because it usually leads to good decisions.
Choose wisely. There is only one correct answer.
False. While it sometimes does, it can also deprive us of choosing other, potentially good opportunities.
10.
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.