I was talking to a friend of mine recently, and she got angry and told me that it was my fault that she was feeling that way. This shocked me, because I've always been of the opinion that people have control over their own thoughts, not other people's. She said that my actions had caused her to become angry, while I contended that she got angry because she had a lack of control over her emotions. (Of course, she then got even more angry) I then brought up the fact that I wouldn't get angry if she had said the same thing to me, and she said that that was because I was "different" . What do you guys think? Can we effect other people's emotions, or are people responsible for what they think and feel?

umm i my thoughts are if your around a happy person.. then you'll be happy.... but only if your not the grumpy type that tries ruining the fun ...

It probably works with other emotions too (angry,sad, ect.)

I think that you can effect other people's thoughts and emotions. You just have to say or do right things at the right moment but that's just my opinion.
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We influence how others feel....they choose to feel that way...but we're the ones that act in a way that gives them choices as to how they should feel....ie. I used to be bullied a lot and still technically am....it really pissed me off before because i let it get to me....but now i don't care...i give no reaction and feel nothing when the same things are said to me...

Our actions provoke the feelings....the person chooses whether or not to express them...it all depends on control....

i agree with JK peoples emotions can be affected by how u feel or how u make them feel but its still up to the person to contain wild emotions and sorry u got bullied JK :

I think we can contribute or influence in one way or another with people's thoughts and emotions. But, they are still the ones who are responsible for their own emotions. After all, it's theirs - not ours.. we simply 'contributed' to it in a way. Besides, even if we might have influenced them that could affect their thoughts and emotions, I believe it's still their own choice whether to get 'affected' by it or not.

I agree with the sentiments here already written by everyone else, so not much more for me to add. We are all, to some degree or another, a bit empathic, or connected, so we can pick up on vibes that others send off. If not totally in tune with our own emotions, then we too, can become infected with the emotions of another and may believe that they are our own.

Feelings are different from emotions tho. Feelings are generally based upon an experiential situation, where we can sympathise with someone because we've been in a similar situation, or someone has reminded us, through their actions, of another situation where we felt a certain way. In this, I do not believe that we can actually have any control over how a person feels, but merely act as a catalyst, by our actions or words, for that person to either accept the feelings as their own, for we are not eminating the same, or deny them because they recoginise the situation as being different.

'You hurt my feelings' tends to bring about a list of emotions that one can choose from - immediate anger (brought on by pain) ; pain alone ; indifference. These emotions are what sends out vibes, so if you were in a decent mood, you then said something, and the other person became angry, it was not you who had any direct influence over the person's emotions, but the person themself. Just my opinion, tho.