Regret theory is a comprehensive theory of human behavior which was developed by Richard Thaler and Nobel Laureate, Daniel Kahneman, to explain why people are often afraid to make decisions for fear of regretting them later on. This concept understands that the potential for regret is one of the main reasons why people don’t take action and prefers to stay in their comfort zone. This aversion to risk-taking, then, has an impact on how people invest, meaning that they end up stagnating their investments in a single ETF or aggressively trying to beat the market.

Investors who fear the regret of making a mistake often hesitate in making bold moves that would help improve their portfolio performance. Regret theory explains why investors often stay in their comfort zones by avoiding making decisions that could generate the greatest returns. They often focus on short-term profits while assuming the ‘path-of-least-resistance’ approach is the best way to earn returns.

To successfully mitigate the influence of regret theory on an investor’s portfolio, one must recognize the bias that it generates and make conscious decisions against it. Having a clear investment strategy and goals can help take action towards reaching those goals. Automating investments can also prevent human emotions from clouding decision-making, as automation helps eliminate the chances of regretting decisions.

Regret theory is an important part of investing psychology, as those who adhere to it can easily fall into poor investment practices by either over-risking or avoiding risk. The theory offers insight into why investors are prone to paralysis or irrational decision-making, which ultimately results in less than desirable investment outcomes. By understanding the potential for regret and combatting it with smart investment strategies and decisions, one can become a better investor.