Final answer:
The term 'emotion regulation' refers to the ability to influence and control one's emotional experiences and expressions, which can happen both consciously and unconsciously.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability to influence which emotions one experiences and when or how one expresses them is termed emotion regulation. Emotion regulation involves both conscious and unconscious processes that allow individuals to navigate and influence the emotions they experience and display. According to Mauss and colleagues, automatic emotion regulation (AER) refers to the non-deliberate control of emotions — meaning this kind of regulation is akin to a reflex or an ingrained behavior. Emotion regulation can affect aspects such as attention, appraisal, engagement, and subsequent behaviors in response to emotions.
Our emotional states entail a combination of physiological arousal, psychological appraisal, and subjective experiences. Theories such as James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, and Schachter-Singer provide varied perspectives on how these components interact to form our emotional responses. Understanding emotion regulation is crucial, as it helps us manage our emotions in ways that are conducive to wellbeing and effective interpersonal interactions.