Is the Control of Emotion Possible?

The control of emotions and the control of their expression are distinguished. It is argued that so far as emotions are identified with spontaneity, they cannot be controlled directly. What can be controlled is their expression but then one should distinguish emotions with or without necessary or unnecessary expression. The expression of some types of emotion can be controlled and in some cases the control of their expression can generate the backward control of emotions. Yet, there are emotions with no expression and they can be shaped only by a long-term project of modification of a person’s character.