How Your Brain Tricks You Into Making Bad Trading Decisions!!!Hello everyone! Hope you’re doing well. Today, we’re diving into a crucial topic—how your brain can work against you in trading if it’s not trained properly. Many traders think they’re making logical decisions, but subconscious biases and emotions often take control.
Our brain operates in two modes: intuitive thinking (fast, emotional, automatic) and deliberative thinking (slow, logical, analytical). In trading, intuition can lead to impulsive mistakes—chasing price moves, hesitating on good setups, or exiting too early out of fear.
To improve, traders must shift from intuition to deliberation by following structured plans, back testing strategies, and practicing emotional discipline. In this discussion, we’ll explore how to overcome these mental biases and make smarter trading decisions. Let’s get started!
Most traders face common mistakes—exiting winners too early, letting profits turn into losses, holding onto bad trades, or making impulsive decisions. Why? Because our brain isn’t wired for trading. In everyday life, instincts help us, but in trading, they often lead to fear, greed, and denial.
Your Brain Operates in Two Modes
Just like in daily life, where we sometimes act on reflex and other times think things through carefully, our trading mind also operates in two distinct modes: intuitive thinking and deliberative thinking. Intuitive thinking is fast, automatic, and effortless. It helps us make quick decisions, like braking suddenly when a car stops in front of us. However, in trading, this rapid decision-making often leads to impulsive actions driven by emotions like fear and greed. This is why many traders enter or exit trades without a solid plan, reacting to market movements instead of following a strategy.
On the other hand, deliberative thinking is slow, effortful, and analytical. This is the part of the brain that carefully weighs options, follows rules, and makes logical decisions—like when solving a complex math problem or planning a trading strategy.
Our intuitive brain is designed to make quick and automatic decisions with minimal effort. This is the part of the brain that helps us react instantly to situations—like catching a falling object or braking suddenly while driving. It relies on patterns, emotions, and past experiences to make snap judgments. In everyday life, this ability is incredibly useful, saving us time and energy. However, when it comes to trading, this fast-thinking system can often lead us into trouble.
For example, a trader might see the market rising rapidly and instinctively think, “This can’t go any higher! I should short it now.” This reaction feels obvious in the moment, but it lacks deeper analysis. The market could continue rising, trapping the trader in a losing position. Because intuitive thinking is based on gut feelings rather than structured reasoning, it often leads to impulsive and emotionally driven trading decisions. In the next slides, we’ll explore how to counterbalance this instinct with deliberative thinking—the slow, logical approach that leads to better trading decisions.
Unlike intuitive thinking, which reacts quickly and emotionally, deliberative thinking is slow, effortful, and analytical. It requires conscious thought, logical reasoning, and careful consideration before making a decision. This is the part of the brain that helps traders analyze probabilities, assess risks, and make well-informed choices rather than acting on impulse. While it takes more time and effort, it leads to better trading outcomes because decisions are based on data and strategy rather than emotions.
For example, instead of immediately reacting to a fast-moving market, a deliberative trader might pause and think, “Let me check the higher time frame before deciding.” This approach helps traders avoid unnecessary risks and false signals by ensuring that every trade is well-planned. The most successful traders operate primarily in this mode, following a structured process that includes technical analysis, risk management, and reviewing past trades. In the next slides, we’ll discuss how to train our brains to rely more on deliberative thinking and reduce emotional reactions in trading.
Take a moment to answer these two questions:
A bat and a ball cost ₹150 in total. The bat costs ₹120 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?
If 5 machines take 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would 100 machines take to make 100 widgets?
At first glance, your brain might immediately jump to an answer. If you thought ₹30 for the first question or 100 minutes for the second, you’re relying on intuitive thinking. These answers feel right but are actually incorrect. The correct answers are ₹15 for the ball (since the bat costs ₹135) and 5 minutes for the second question (since each machine’s rate of production stays the same).
This exercise shows how intuitive thinking can mislead us when dealing with numbers and logic-based problems. The same happens in trading—snap decisions based on gut feelings often lead to costly mistakes. To improve as traders, we need to slow down, double-check our reasoning, and shift into deliberative thinking. In the next slides, we’ll explore how to strengthen this skill and apply it to trading decisions.
Did Your Intuition Trick You?
Let’s review the answers:
Answer 1: The ball costs ₹15, not ₹30! If the ball were ₹30, the bat would be ₹150 (₹120 more), making the total ₹180, which is incorrect. The correct way to solve it is by setting up an equation:
Let the ball cost x.
The bat costs x + 120.
So, x + (x + 120) = 150 → 2x + 120 = 150 → 2x = 30 → x = 15.
Answer 2: The correct answer is 5 minutes, not 100 minutes! Since 5 machines take 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, each machine produces 1 widget in 5 minutes. If we increase the number of machines to 100, each still takes 5 minutes to produce a widget, so 100 machines will still take 5 minutes to make 100 widgets.
Most people get these answers wrong because their intuitive brain jumps to conclusions without thinking through the logic. This is exactly how traders make impulsive mistakes—by relying on gut feelings instead of slowing down to analyze the situation properly. The key lesson here is that we must train ourselves to pause, question our first reaction, and shift into deliberative thinking when making trading decisions.
Why is Intuitive Thinking Dangerous in Trading?
Intuitive thinking is great for quick decisions in everyday life, like catching a falling object or reacting to danger. However, in trading, this fast-thinking system becomes a problem because it takes shortcuts, ignores probabilities, and acts on emotions rather than logic. When traders rely on intuition, they often react impulsively to price movements, overestimate their ability to predict the market, and make decisions based on fear or greed rather than strategy.
For example, a trader might see a market rapidly rising and instinctively think, “This can’t go any higher—I should short it!” without checking key levels or trends. Or, after a few losses, they may feel the urge to take revenge trades, hoping to recover quickly. These emotional reactions lead to poor risk management and inconsistent results. To succeed in trading, we must recognize these intuitive traps and learn to replace them with a structured, logical approach.
Let’s look at some common mistakes traders make due to intuitive thinking:
Shorting just because the market has risen too much: A trader might see a sharp price increase and feel like it’s too high to continue, instinctively thinking, “This can’t go any higher; it’s due for a drop.” However, the market doesn’t always follow logical patterns, and this emotional reaction can lead to premature trades that result in losses.
Buying just because the market is falling: Similarly, traders may feel compelled to buy when the market falls too much, thinking, “It’s too low to go any further.” This belief, without proper analysis, can lead to buying into a downtrend or even catching a falling knife, resulting in significant losses.
Taking tips from social media without analysis: Many traders fall into the trap of acting on market tips or rumors they see on social media or trading forums. These decisions are often made without proper research, relying purely on gut feelings or herd mentality.
If you've ever taken a trade just because it "felt right" without fully analyzing the situation, chances are your intuitive brain was in control. These emotional decisions are natural, but they often lead to costly mistakes. The key to improving your trading is learning to slow down, analyze the situation carefully, and avoid rushing into trades based on impulse.
Why Deliberative Thinking Matters
Deliberative thinking is the key to becoming a successful trader because it encourages us to assess probabilities, reduce impulsive trades, and ensure well-thought-out decisions. Instead of acting on gut feelings, traders who use deliberative thinking take the time to analyze market conditions, trends, and risks. By calculating probabilities, reviewing different scenarios, and sticking to a solid trading plan, they can make more rational decisions that are grounded in logic, not emotions.
This slow, methodical approach may seem counterintuitive in a fast-paced market, but it’s what separates successful traders from those who constantly chase the market. The best traders don’t act on impulse; they analyze, think critically, and then trade. This approach leads to consistency in trading, as decisions are based on a systematic process rather than emotional reactions. By training your brain to operate in this way, you’ll improve your decision-making and reduce the likelihood of impulsive, emotional mistakes.
Let’s look at a real-world example of how intuitive thinking can trap traders:
The market rallies from 26,800 to 28,800, and as the price starts to pull back, lower lows form on the hourly chart. Many traders, relying on the short-term price action, decide to short the market, thinking the rally is over. However, when you zoom out and check the daily chart, you notice that there’s no clear reversal signal—it's still showing an overall uptrend.
Despite this, many traders act impulsively based on what they see on the smaller time frames, only to watch the market rally another 500 points, trapping those who shorted the market.
This is exactly how intuitive traders get trapped—by making decisions based on the lower time frames without considering the bigger picture. Deliberative thinking would involve checking higher time frames, assessing the trend, and waiting for a proper confirmation before entering a trade. By training yourself to think this way, you’ll avoid getting caught in market traps like this one.
One of the best strategies for avoiding impulsive mistakes is to always check daily or weekly charts before taking a trade. While it’s tempting to act on short-term movements, smart traders zoom out to get a clearer picture of the market's overall trend. By analyzing higher time frames, you can see if the market is truly reversing or if it's simply a temporary pullback within a larger trend.
It’s important to look for confirmation of trends before acting. If the higher time frames show an uptrend, but the lower time frames show a temporary dip, it may be wise to wait for confirmation before making a trade. Don’t rush based on short-term movements; give yourself time to assess the bigger picture and make decisions based on a well-thought-out analysis rather than emotional reactions.
Remember, successful traders understand that the higher time frame offers critical insights into market direction. By incorporating this approach, you’ll make more informed, consistent trading decisions and avoid getting trapped by short-term fluctuations.
Shifting from intuitive to deliberative trading takes practice, but with consistent effort, you can train your mind to make better decisions. Here’s how you can start:
Review past trades – Were they intuitive or deliberate? Reflecting on your previous trades helps you identify whether your decisions were based on impulse or careful analysis. Understanding the reasoning behind your past trades can help you improve future ones.
Ask ‘Why?’ before every trade: Before entering any position, take a moment to ask yourself, “Why am I taking this trade?” This forces you to think critically and ensures that your decision is based on analysis rather than emotions.
Use probabilities, not gut feelings: Deliberative thinking is based on probability, so focus on statistical analysis and historical patterns rather than relying on your gut. This might include checking your risk-to-reward ratio or waiting for confirmation signals from multiple indicators.
Follow a structured trading plan: A solid trading plan with clearly defined rules and guidelines will help you make logical, consistent decisions. When you follow a plan, you’re less likely to make emotional, impulsive trades.
By implementing these steps, you’ll gradually train your mind to operate more deliberately, leading to more disciplined and profitable trading. Remember, trading is a skill that improves with practice, so take the time to develop your deliberative thinking.
A great historical example of intuitive thinking gone wrong is the Dot-Com Bubble of the late 1990s. During this time, many companies added “.com” to their names, capitalizing on the internet boom. Investors rushed in blindly, often buying shares of these companies based purely on the excitement of the market and the fear of missing out (FOMO).
However, many of these companies had no real business model or clear path to profitability. Investors, driven by emotional excitement and herd mentality, ignored the fundamentals—such as profitability, cash flow, and market demand. As a result, the market eventually collapsed, wiping out traders who didn’t take the time to analyze the companies' real value and business models.
This is a perfect example of intuitive investors acting on emotions and hype without real analysis—and losing big. To avoid this trap, it’s important to apply deliberative thinking, focusing on thorough research, fundamental analysis, and careful assessment of market conditions. This case study shows the importance of not jumping into investments based on emotional impulses but making decisions grounded in solid analysis.
To become a successful trader, you must shift from relying on intuitive thinking to embracing deliberative thinking. Here’s how you can start making that transition:
Avoid easy, obvious trades: If a trade feels too easy or too obvious, it’s often a trap. The market is complex, and quick decisions based on gut feelings usually lead to impulsive mistakes. Take the time to think through your trades, even if they seem like a “sure thing.”
Develop patience and discipline: Patience is key in trading. Instead of reacting immediately to market moves, wait for the right setups and confirmations. Discipline ensures you follow your plan and don’t get swept up in the moment.
Learn to think in probabilities: Trading is about probabilities, not certainty. Start thinking in terms of risk and reward, and assess the likelihood of different outcomes before entering a trade. This shift in mindset will help you make more rational, logical decisions.
Be skeptical of ‘obvious’ trade setups: If a trade seems too perfect or too easy, it’s worth questioning. Often, the most obvious setups are the ones that lead to losses. Always do your due diligence and question your assumptions before pulling the trigger.
By making these changes, you’ll develop a trading mindset that focuses on thoughtful analysis, patience, and probability, rather than emotional, impulsive decisions. The goal is to think deeper, be more strategic, and avoid rushing into trades based on intuition.
Now that we’ve covered the key principles, it’s time to take action.
Start by reviewing your past trades. This is crucial for identifying whether your decisions were based on intuition or deliberate thinking. By reflecting on your trades, you can spot patterns and areas where you may have made impulsive decisions.
Next, identify your intuitive mistakes. Think about trades where you acted quickly or without full analysis. Were you influenced by emotions like fear or greed? Understanding these mistakes helps you avoid repeating them in the future.
Finally, commit to making deliberate decisions going forward. Before you place your next trade, take a step back. Analyze the market, assess probabilities, and follow your trading plan. This shift to a more thoughtful, disciplined approach is what will help you become a more consistent and successful trader.
Your next trade is an opportunity to put these principles into practice. Let’s focus on making smarter, more deliberate decisions from here on out!
