Revenge trading typically occurs when a trader experiences a significant loss or a series of losses. Feeling the pressure to "make back" the lost funds, the trader deviates from their trading strategy, often increasing their position sizing or entering trades with higher risk profiles.
For instance, imagine that after a heavy loss caused by an unexpected market downturn, the trader doubles down on another risky position to recover the lost capital. The new position bets against the recent downturn. Despite market indicators suggesting further decline, the trader sticks with the new position without any reason other than to recover their previous losses.
Revenge trading can negatively influence traders both financially and emotionally. Financially, revenge trading often leads to further losses. It can also result in higher trading costs if trading frequency increases.
Emotionally, revenge trading can lead to stress and anxiety. It can also lead to a feeling of frustration and failure, which might deter the trader from following a systematic trading approach in the future. Furthermore, persistent revenge trading can result in burnout, causing the trader to lose interest and potentially stop trading altogether.
Trading is hard and can be very stressful. If you find yourself revenge trading, or failing to follow your trading strategies, long-term investing might be a safer and easier choice, especially for beginners.
Revenge trading refers to an emotional response from traders in an attempt to quickly recover their losses. It negatively impacts traders both financially and emotionally, potentially leading to burnout and further financial losses.