Emotions: How Humans Regulate Them and Why Some People Can’t

Changing our minds can change our emotions, but it isn't as simple as it sounds

Emotions can be contemplated and selected—if you know how. Gearstd/Shutterstock

Take the following scenario. You are nearing the end of a busy day at work when a comment from your boss diminishes what’s left of your dwindling patience. You turn, red-faced, toward the source of your indignation. Then, you stop, reflect, and choose not to voice your displeasure. After all, the shift is nearly over.

This may not be the most exciting plot, but it shows how we regulate our emotions.