The function is concave in the domain of gains and convex in the domain
of losses. It is also steeper for losses than for gains, which implies that peo-
ple are generally risk-averse. Critical to this value function is the reference
point from which gains and losses are measured. Usually the status quo is
taken as the reference point; however, “there are situations in which gains
and losses are coded relative to an expectation or aspiration level that dif-
fers from the status quo....A person who has not made peace with his
losses is likely to accept gambles that would be unacceptable to him other-
wise” (Kahneman and Tversky 1979, p. 287).
For example, suppose an investor purchases a stock that she believes to
have an expected return high enough to justify its risk. If the stock appreci-
ates and the investor continues to use the purchase price as a reference
point, the stock price will then be in a more concave, more risk-averse, part
of the investor’s value function. It may be that the stock’s expected return
continues to justify its risk. However, if the investor somewhat lowers her
expectation of the stock’s return, she will be likely to sell the stock. What if,
instead of appreciating, the stock declines? Then its price is in the convex,
risk-seeking, part of the value function. Here the investor will continue to
hold the stock even if its expected return falls lower than would have been
necessary for her to justify its original purchase. Thus the investor’s belief
about expected return must fall further to motivate the sale of a stock that
has already declined rather than one that has appreciated. Similarly, con-
sider an investor who holds two stocks. One is up; the other is down. If she
is faced with a liquidity demand, and has no new information about either
stock, she is more likely to sell the stock that is up.
544 BARBER AND ODEAN
Figure 15.1. Prospect theory value function.