Anthropologists like to point to caveman days for the reasons we act certain ways. Add financial planners to the list of those who are now looking at animal tendencies for answers to why people invest the way they do.

Basically, it comes down to three types — monkeys, lizards and squirrels. It could be that our “investor brains” evolved from some of these animals along the way to walking upright.

Monkeys

They get easily excited at the next big investment opportunity in hopes of making a killing. Not much thought goes into what they do. Just what will be fun for the moment or what the other monkeys are investing in now.

The only good thing about monkeys is sometimes they are right. They take the risks, and while risk can mean big losses, risk also can mean big winners. But in the long run, they usually find themselves right back on the branch where they started.

Lizards

Investors like these defy logic when investing and get a rush of adrenaline that tells them they are about to be killed in the market. They rush to sell when the market falls and not venture back in until it looks safer.

Unfortunately, this lizard brains miss the recovery and have sold at the bottom so they often end up with fewer ants in their belly.

Squirrels

They know the value of accumulation through a methodical process that ensures them they won’t starve when times are bad. They go about building their savings with monthly nut deposits, then sit back in the tree and enjoy their leisure time without worry.

What animal is in your investor brain? Once you recognize what it is, you’re more likely to be aware of the behavior pattern and make changes for the better.