Anger looks at the person and edits out the room. It is the man who is rude, never the traffic, the deadline or the night he spent awake.

What the research says

A meta-analysis of imaging studies in mood and anxiety disorders found that reappraisal engaged the same prefrontal and amygdala system as in other people, though with altered activation, suggesting the capacity is present but works less efficiently. Re-reading a situation stays available even when it is harder than usual. These were laboratory tasks, and altered activation does not tell you what will help a particular person.

Strength of evidence: one line of research. A single study, or a theoretical account.