Okuzeka
Psychology vocabulary · Emotion and Motivation

Emotion regulation

Meaning in psychology, with examples

nounCommon term

In psychology, emotion regulation means: The processes people use to influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how strongly they experience and express them.

In Turkish: duygu düzenleme

How it is used

A major research area (for example James Gross's process model) and a target in therapies such as DBT. The strategies discussed most are reappraisal and suppression. Clinicians talk about difficulties with emotion regulation; 'emotional regulation' is also used.

Example sentences

  1. Studies suggest that reappraisal is a more adaptive emotion regulation strategy than suppression.

  2. Difficulties with emotion regulation are a key focus of dialectical behaviour therapy.

Common collocations

  • emotion regulation strategies
  • difficulties in emotion regulation
  • emotion regulation skills
  • emotionA short-lived reaction such as fear, joy, anger or sadness that involves a feeling, changes in the body and an urge to act in a certain way.
  • moodA general emotional state that lasts longer, is less intense and is less clearly linked to a cause than a single emotion, such as feeling low or irritable for days.
  • cope withTo deal with a difficult situation, feeling or problem in a way that lets you keep functioning, for example by solving the problem or managing your emotions.
  • mindfulnessPaying attention on purpose to present-moment experience, such as thoughts, feelings and body sensations, with openness and without judging it.

More terms: Emotion and Motivation

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.