hmm, I think what I mean by this is that it can be a persons pride as well as their basic desire to survive and have their needs met that can contribute to overreactions. I guess these things are directly related to emotions. It is interesting though, because there are multiple theories, none of which are entirely agreeable, that talk about which order our emotions and the corresponding physical responses occur in. Some think that they both happen at the same time, and some think that our physical response along with some cognitive appraisal determine what emotion is experienced. Do we sweat and does our heart beat fast before we feel fear, or does the feeling of fear cause these responses? In the moment, are these responses entirely in our control?
Personally, I think that they are in our control to a degree (i am sure people have all experienced such strong and overpowering emotions and physical responses that they could not control them). We can stand and have a decent conversations even when our knees are weak and we are shaking. We can also have a conversation with a degree of reason when tears are pouring out of our eyes dispite our will. So yeah, I think we can control our emotions rather then have them control us. What might get in the way of this for most people, is that ego centered belief in the need to be right and to get what we want... this is an entire discussion that could go on for days lol. Also, maybe the ego is imaginary but it can be a helpful idea for understanding what is within us.