Bridging personality and behavior in financial trading: A qualitative perspective

Our study investigates the relationship between personality traits (OCEAN Big Five model) and trading decision styles through a qualitative and interpretative perspective. Relying on semi-structured interviews with eight student participants following a stock market simulation, our research identifies four main decision-making profiles: rational-analytical, intuitive-emotional, compulsive, and stoic. Each profile is analyzed in relation to personality traits and emotional responses under market pressure. While some correlations correspond to existing literature, our findings highlight hybrid profiles and decision styles that go beyond fixed typologies and homogeneous styles. Even for participants who present an analytical-rational style, emotions remain central and are generally regulated instead of being repressed. The social context (peer comparison and competitive ranking) also plays a critical role in shaping investment behaviors. Our study refines current conceptions of financial decision-making by highlighting the interaction between personality, emotional processes, cognitive mechanisms, and social influence.