The capacity to modulate emotional experiences and expressions – whether by dampening or intensifying them – is fundamental to mental health and social functioning. While infants possess rudimentary self-regulation abilities, the development of emotional regulation unfolds gradually through childhood and adolescence. This development is driven by two parallel processes: cognitive and neurobiological maturation, and the influence of supportive relationships. Individual differences in developmental trajectories are significant; those who show protracted development of regulatory abilities face increased risk for psychopathology. Our research examines both intrapersonal and interpersonal factors that shape the development of emotion regulation, aiming to understand why some individuals develop effective regulatory abilities while others struggle.
