Psychoanalysis of Investor Irrationality and Dynamism in Stock Market

Abstract

This article provides an alternative theoretical framework to explain investors’ irrational behaviours in finance theories (mainly asset pricing) based on psychoanalysis approach. This is an approach used by psychoanalysts and psychiatrists to investigate human minds. The investigation is facilitated by interdisciplinary theories, namely (a) bounded rationality theory which differentiates intuition and reasoning, (b) prospect theory which explains framing and valuation and (c) theory of mind which divides behavioural risks into cognitive heuristics and affective biases. These theories collectively explain the origin of irrational behaviours. Additionally, (d) the ABC (Activating–Beliefs–Consequences) model is also used to interpret the causes and effects of irrational behaviours on investors and market behaviour. Last theory, (e) the dual system model of preference is used to conceptualize the bounded human mind that contains both rational and irrational elements. The proposed theoretical framework provides the theoretical foundation of investors’ irrational origin, forces, causes as well as their systematic effects on investors, asset prices and stock market behaviours dynamism. The validity of the theoretical framework is supported by empirical test using a representative of emerging stock market data and behavioural risk proxies.