What is emotional regulation? A child psychologist explains

Everyone engages in emotional regulation – and there are more healthy and less healthy ways to do so. Dimitri Otis/Stone via Getty Images

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 ones like jealousy and anger.