Emotional Regulation Systems#

If underdeveloped, it may present as:

• an over-reaction to external stimuli, such as being easily affected by (relatively minor) perceived negativity.
• an obsession with perfectionism
• an inability to self-soothe in times of distress

Paul Gilbert’s evolutionary model proposes that human beings switch between these systems to manage their emotions. Each system is associated with different brain regions and different brain chemistry. Distress is caused by an imbalance between the systems, often associated with under-development of the soothing system.