What is emotional regulation? A child psychologist explains

The aim isn’t to get rid of difficult feelings, but to find ways of managing them effectively.

By: Jessica Griffin, UMass Chan Medical School, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 6, 2026

Words: 1,382

Last Updated: 1 week, 5 days ago

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By Jessica Griffin, UMass Chan Medical School

If you’ve followed mental health topics on TikTok or Instagram lately, you have probably heard the term emotional regulation. But emotional regulation isn’t just a trendy buzzword. It’s a nuanced concept that psychologists like me have been studying for decades.

At its core, emotional regulation is how well someone can manage their emotions – whether positive ones like excitement and joy, or negative or more uncomfortable …

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