Loss Aversion
- “why does losing hurt more than winning feels good”
- “why can't I sell a losing stock”
- “loss aversion explained”
- “protecting a streak I don't care about”
:: COMPARE ::
Loss aversionvsRisk aversion
The short answer
Risk aversion is a dislike of uncertainty, full stop. Loss aversion is anchored to a reference point — and it can push you toward *more* risk when framing turns a choice into a loss. Someone can be risk-averse over gains and risk-seeking over losses in the same afternoon.
Side by side
| Aspect | Loss aversion | Risk aversion |
|---|---|---|
| Anchored to | A reference point | Nothing |
| In the loss domain | Risk-seeking | Still cautious |
| Depends on framing | Heavily | Little |
| Consistent | No | Yes |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Loss Aversion rather than Risk aversion are usually searching for phrases like “why does losing hurt more than winning feels good”, “why can't I sell a losing stock”, “loss aversion explained”.
Read either one in full