Exploring the Mutually Constitutive Relationship Between Psychological Processes of Emotion Regulation and the TCM Theory of “Liver Governing Free Flow”

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between emotion regulation processes and the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concept of “liver governing free flow” from an interdisciplinary perspective and to propose an integrative theoretical framework. Methods: Drawing on the process model of emotion regulation and TCM theories of emotional activity, this study conducted an integrative theoretical analysis across three dimensions: emotion generation, emotion regulation, and emotion dysregulation. Results: Cognitive appraisal and cognitive reappraisal mechanisms in emotion regulation exhibit structural correspondence with the qi-regulating and emotion-regulating functions attributed to “liver governing free flow,” particularly in terms of dynamic regulation and maintenance of homeostasis. Both emotion dysregulation and dysfunction of liver free flow reflect disturbances in regulatory balance, and their interaction may involve cross-level coupling and feedback mechanisms mediated through the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the gut–brain axis. Conclusion: Emotion regulation theory and the TCM concept of liver free flow demonstrate complementary and mutually informative relationships at the levels of cognitive regulation and physiological regulation. This paper proposes a “cognition–qi dual-channel” conceptual framework, which expands current interpretations of emotion regulation by incorporating interactions between psychological processes and physiological regulatory states, and provides a theoretical basis for future empirical research.