大部分交易者都在尋找提高交易盈利的方法，甚至有一些人將畢生精力致力於尋找聖杯——可以帶來100%盈利的完美指標或交易系統。他們中的許多人都已交易多年並且測試了很多良好的交易系統，但是這些交易系統似乎並沒有引起他們的重視。每當發現最新的、流行的交易系統，他們便會立刻放棄自己正在測試的。
完美主義和躲避
完美主義者的動機通常是逃避：逃避不愉快的經歷。那些不斷尋找完美交易系統的交易者也很有可能是為了避免不愉快的交易經歷。
除了交易虧損之外，你唯一的痛苦就來自於自己因虧損產生的情緒——通常比手被大頭針紮了更疼。如果你將註意力集中在虧損上，而不是想辦法擴大自己的整體盈利，那麼你的交易就不可能取得成功。
性格類型
A型性格
A型性格的交易者有可能都承擔相同的損失，但是卻會有完全不同的情緒反映。這與他們的過去經歷有關——不僅包括交易經歷，還包括人生經歷。你的競争意識越強，你就越難以接收虧損。我們從很小的時候開始就註定要競争：去成功，成為班級第一，永遠追求對的等等。虧損相當於失敗——要不惜一切代價避免。
完美主義者
不是所有的完美主義者都是A型性格。他們中的許多人為了避免失敗，推遲或避免一起交易。
初學者
初學者通常具有一系列的積極經歷。他們不熟悉資金管理，往往過度自信，並會投入大量的資金希望取得進一步盈利。
創傷性經歷
過去的創傷會影響我們如何看待相關的經歷。一個幾乎溺水的孩子會更傾向於怕水。同樣，許多交易者在經歷過“震懾”性的重大損失之後便一蹶不振。他們完全的放棄交易或者在整個職業生涯中都在努力的避免負面情緒的發生。
Searching for the Holy Grail (and Dealing with Losses)
Most traders are on the lookout for ways to improve their trading, but some dedicate their lives to searching for the holy grail -- the perfect indicator or trading system that will provide setups with a 100% success rate. Many of them have been trading for years, and have tried and tested a number of successful systems, but they seem to suffer from a short attention-span. They drop what they are doing at the first opportunity and head off after the latest fad.
Perfectionism and Avoidance
Perfectionists are often motivated by avoidance: the need to avoid unpleasant emotional experiences. Traders who seek the perfect system are also likely to be motivated by the need to avoid unpleasant experiences.
Avoidance
Imagine taking part in a game where participants are divided into two groups, blindfolded and asked to stick out their right hand.
The first group is given ten dollars each time they extend their hand. They soon learn how to play the game and, no doubt, enjoy playing at every opportunity.
The second group is also given ten dollars, randomly, about 80% of the time. The remaining 20% of the time, instead of being given a dollar, their hand is jabbed with a pin. Most participants in this group are likely to quit fairly quickly -- they focus on the pain and ignore the reward.
With trading losses, the only pain that you will suffer is the emotional reaction to a loss -- often far worse than being jabbed with a pin. If you concentrate on avoiding losses rather than on maximizing your overall gain, you are unlikely to succeed at trading.
Personality Types
A group of traders may all incur the same loss but suffer vastly different emotional responses. A lot depends on their past experiences -- not only while trading but in the broader arena of life.
A-type Personalities
The more competitive you are, the more uncomfortable you are likely to be about incurring losses. From an early age, many of us are programmed to compete: to win; to accomplish; to be top of the class; to always be right; and to succeed at whatever we set out to do. Losses are equated with losing -- to be avoided at all costs.
Perfectionists
Not all perfectionists are A-type personalities. Many procrastinate, or avoid competing altogether, to avoid failure.
Beginners
Newcomers to trading often start off with a string of positive experiences. Unfamiliar with the basics of money management, they are often over-confident and prepared to bet large amounts of their capital in the expectation of further gains.
Traumatic Experiences
Past trauma affects how we view related experiences. A child who almost drowns may be prone to developing a fear of water. Similarly, when hit with the "shock and awe" of a major loss, many traders never recover. They quit trading completely or spend their entire career trying to avoid a repeat of that negative emotional experience.
Developing A Healthy Attitude Towards Losses
Avoid chasing after the perfect system that promises to eliminate losses.
Don't equate losses with failure. In fact, complete elimination of losses should be seen as a failure -- you are likely to have eliminated most of your gains as a consequence.
Distinguish between abnormal losses and the small losses normally incurred by any trading system.
Accept that small losses are an unavoidable part of trading -- and that you will regularly incur them. They are as much a part of trading as are profits.
Most successful traders, as Van Tharp (Trade Your Way To Financial Freedom) points out, enjoy success rates no greater than 50%. What they are able to do, however, is to restrict the size of their losses while realizing substantial gains on their successful trades.
Focus on the collective effect (maximizing your overall gain) rather than on the impact of individual transactions.
Practice sound money management to restrict the size and frequency of your losses.
文章翻譯由兄弟財經提供
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