self-regulation
Managing one's behavior
Self-regulation is the ability to control one's behavior, emotions, or impulses—especially in pursuit of longer-term goals.
A child learning to wait for a reward demonstrates self-regulation.
The term also applies to industries or professions that police themselves rather than submitting to government oversight: The tech sector has largely relied on self-regulation.
In biology, self-regulation describes systems that maintain internal balance without external control.
Mental strength resisting impulse
- inhibitionMental check on behavior
- restraintControl over impulses
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- goal-settingEstablishing intended outcomes
planning · consistency · perseverance · commitment · accountability · prioritization · focus · attention
Managing under strain
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- composureEmotional self-control
- equanimityUnshakable mental steadiness
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
Biological internal stability maintenance
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
- biofeedbackTraining via physiological monitoring
- autonomicSelf-regulating without awareness
Freedom from external control
- agencyPower to act
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- volitionCapacity for choice
Temporary exterior work platform
- caregiverOne providing daily assistance
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- socializationInternalizing cultural norms
- temperamentInborn behavioral nature
maturation · parenting · modeling · internalization · nurturing · guidance
Official quality approval
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- transparencyState of being see-through
guidelines · watchdog · ombudsman · audit
willpower
Mental strength resisting impulse
- inhibitionMental check on behavior
- restraintControl over impulses
- moderationAvoidance of excess
goal-setting · planning · consistency · perseverance · commitment · accountability · prioritization · focus · attention · adjustment
coping
Managing under strain
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- composureEmotional self-control
- equanimityUnshakable mental steadiness
homeostasis
Biological internal stability maintenance
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
- biofeedbackTraining via physiological monitoring
independence
Freedom from external control
- agencyPower to act
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
volition · free-will · choice · individuality
scaffolding
Temporary exterior work platform
- caregiverOne providing daily assistance
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- socializationInternalizing cultural norms
temperament · maturation · parenting · modeling · internalization · nurturing · guidance
accreditation
Official quality approval
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
transparency · guidelines · watchdog · ombudsman · audit
- child developmentbaby, toddler, newborn, infancy, milestones
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- meditationbreathing meditation, breath, breath meditation, mantra, breathing
- self-controlrestraint, willpower, composure, moderation, temperance
- self-disciplinerestraint, impulse control, willpower, discipline, emotional control
- self-reflectionjournaling, introspection, soul-searching, contemplation, reflective writing
self-regulationcoercion
Pressured compliance through threats
micromanagement · paternalism · government regulation · state control · government control
self-regulationimpulsivity
Acting without considering consequences
dysregulation · self-indulgence · impulsiveness · abandon · recklessness
self-regulationgovernment regulation
Laws governing industry conduct
state regulation · federal regulation · legislative oversight · legal mandate · federal oversight
self, regular, regulate, regulation, regulated, regulating, regulator, unregulated, selfhood