Why Losses Hurt Twice as Much as Gains Feel Good?

Why Losses Hurt Twice as Much as Gains Feel Good?

From Cents of Security by Interactive Brokers by Interactive Brokers Podcast

May 27, 2026 · 13 min · Episode 149

About this episode

This episode explores why losses are psychologically more painful than gains are pleasurable, focusing on the concept of loss aversion and its impact on investor behavior.

Why do losses feel twice as painful as gains feel good? In this episode, Mary MacNamara and James Yendrey unpack the psychology of loss aversion—and how it may drive panic selling and missed recoveries. Disclosure: IBKR InvestMentorSM IBKR InvestMentorSM is a service of Interactive Academy LLC, an affiliate of IB LLC and majority-owned by IBG LLC. All content provided by IBKR InvestMentorSM is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as implying any sponsorship, partnership, endorsement, recommendation, or approval by IB LLC or its affiliates. Disclosure: Short Selling Short selling is an advanced trading strategy involving potentially unlimited risks and must be done in a margin account. Disclosure: Margin Trading Trading on margin is only for experienced investors with high risk tolerance. You may lose more than your initial investment. For additional information regarding margin loan rates, see ibkr.com/interest Disclosure: Order Types / TWS The order types available through Interactive Brokers LLC’s trading platforms are designed to help you limit your loss and/or lock in a profit. Market conditions and other factors may affect execution…

People in this episode

Host: Mary MacNamara

Guest: James Yendrey

Topics covered

  • loss aversion
  • psychology of investing
  • panic selling
  • market recovery
  • trading strategies

Keywords

  • loss aversion
  • investing psychology
  • panic selling
  • market recovery
  • trading strategies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Interactive Brokers, IBKR InvestMentorSM, Interactive Academy LLC, IB LLC, IBG LLC

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