The Emotion Regulation Theory

The Emotion Regulation Theory explains how people manage and respond to their emotions. It suggests that individuals use various strategies—like changing how they think about a situation or distracting themselves—to influence the intensity, duration, and expression of their feelings. These strategies can be conscious or automatic and help maintain emotional balance, improve well-being, and guide social interactions. Essentially, it describes the mental processes we use to handle emotions so they don't overwhelm us or disrupt our goals.