Defense Mechanisms
Lately I've seen some noticable and interesting traits in some public and private trading forums. I don't mean to say that they are new or I've discovered some type of eureka. I'm sure they've all been there before, I've just become recently enlightened into this perception. I'm talking of "defense mechanisms" that many use to revert themselves back to some type of emotional balance.
For example, my daughter wants something and I say "no". Her response is normally to stomp on the floor, up the stairs and possibly slam the door in some type of frustration. Yet minutes later, she's back in my lap with her thumb in her mouth just as sweet as ever. I wonder where this "restoration of balance" comes from and how what we view in children ( in many cases ) carries into our trading.
What I've seen or noticed from this personal revelation is the need to "do or say something" after an action has been defined and responded upon.
For example...the trader sees and responds to such signal for trade entry but no fill (or partial fill) was given for whatever reason. I see "x" trader then each time, no matter what trade or outcome, reiterate to those he trades with that he didn't get a fill, or a partial, many times in frustration, but possibly in some manner, just amazement.
I wonder now if this type of "sharing" with those he trades with is some type of defense mechanism to hide something greater and restore emotional balance within himself.
Once again, no fill - Does it mean this trader is trying to hide discomfort that he hesitated on the setup and restores his emotional balance by blaming something that seems reasonable to blame it on.
What I mean is, I hesitated and missed the trade. I'm frustrated, but rather than looking within me, I will make myself feel better by complaining that I didn't get a fill, instead of saying to myself "I hesitated".
I see many of these types of complaints.
1. No trade fills
2. Why can't I hold my winners
3. This market is choppy
There are plenty more, but I wonder if this necessity to find fault with issues not relevant to the "reality" of the situation (meaning to look within himself) is actually a huge detriment to our trading stemming from societal forces of denial and negative impact, where we as children and now traders, learned to create an emotional re-balance by doing something or blaming something external to what is the real issue at hand. (i.e., I will slam the door to make me feel better, I will blame the no fill to make me feel better).
Is creation of defense-mechanisms in this manner a problem or not as you see it? I know we need emotional balance, but what are some better ways to re-create this balance should some event knock us off queue? Certainly blame or complaints are not optimal in this situation but I wonder if there are any thoughts on better ways to restoration that you may have insight on.
All the best,
Chris |
