Amygdala Hijacking: When Emotions Take the Wheel
Have you ever watched a toddler have a meltdown because their banana broke in half? You’ve witnessed an amygdala hijack in action. Psychologist Daniel Goleman refers to the term amygdala hijack as an emotional overreaction that occurs in the brain’s amygdala. This is the part responsible for processing emotions, especially fear and threat, it takes control of your behavior before your logical brain, the prefrontal cortex, can weigh in. They’re not being manipulative or “bad”—they’re experiencing a moment when emotion overrides logic. As a caregiver, it is important to co-regulate with them —to stay calm, create safety, and help guide them back to a regulated state. And just remember parents and pediatric professionals aren’t immune to hijacks either.