Do we have control over our emotions or is it an involuntary neurological response?

Many people say, for example that if you feel emotionally numb, YOU are making yourself feel that way. Some say that you are actively suppressing your emotions.





I'm of the belief that the problem is neurological - that the emotions just don't exist in most cases (with some exceptions in people who have been severely traumatized).





Who is correct, and why?Do we have control over our emotions or is it an involuntary neurological response?
I think you are in control of your own actions and responses and you are capable of changing situations. You may subconciously be suppressing something, and if you think it is really serious you could go get help for that, but most people are in control of their own thoughts and emotions.Do we have control over our emotions or is it an involuntary neurological response?
We all have emotions. Some emotions are automatic responses like disgust, happiness, confusion, and sadness. All are uncontollable and universal expressions that humans have. Meaning these emotions look the same on everyone and are uncontrolled responses to some stimulus as a result of situations or our environment. So in this sense basic emotions can not be controlled. It just shows up on your face. Whether you try to supress the emotion or not. Its there. Studies have shown that these basic emotions seen on people's faces look the same no matter where you come from. It's universal. Its not a learned response. Emotional responses are innate to humans.





What you are referring to supressing emotions. This is possible if there are mental conditions that keep people from feeling emotions (like depression). It is also well known that serial killers don't feel regretful for killing people. Nor do they have any feelings about what they do. Because they are sociopaths. They do not feel a connection to people and therefore do not feel for their victims in any way. In sociology they've linked sociopathic behavior to lack of belonging to a community in an emotional sense. If someone can't identify with those around them and feel part of a larger group (friends, family, community). They start to become withdrawn from others; even emotionally. Other people become objects. Therefore, there is no emotional connection to others.





However, controlling emotions is kind of debatable. You could try to not react to the the stimulus that evokes an emotion out of you... like anger. However, the emotion still registers and your body still reacts to it. For example, your face turns red. You feel agitated. You feel the adreneline rush (you want to hit something). Your palms start to sweat.





I would say we don't have control over our emotions. We have control of how we react to the stimulus in our environment that evoked the emotion. Unless, something is mentally wrong with an individual ...feeling emotions is an inescapable part of our daily lives. Personally I believe we are alive because of our emotions. It gives us motivation and drive. You do not know you want something or need something until you feel it first. For example hunger and love. Both are emotions that leave us feeling empty and in pain when we do not have it. So we are driven to search for food or love.
I think that emotions are unpredictable feelings that can control us and make us act crazy, and we have to keep them under control to have normal lives. That's why some people are so annoying and dramatic, because they have no handle on their emotions. It's crazy that a lot of the people in college with me are like that. Sorry, just had to rant for a moment there.
Interesting question and thought provoking. Though neurological disturbances could cause the lack of emotion, most cases are simply people ';shutting down';. That numbness is a protective cloak people have pulled around them for protection against emotional pain.
The thing is, we believe we can't control our emotions, so we don't. Through meditation and self-control, you can control your own emotions/self.
whichever one you choose.
our emotions are controlled by us, but its who we are that makes us react to things in that certain way.