A thermically controlled electrical switching element which is in the form of a temperature regulator or a temperature limiter. On a socket are arranged, in parallel orientation, a bimetallic spring plate, and a steel plate deflectable to both sides. The bimetallic spring plate is attached at its periphery in such a way that centrally, above a transition temperature, it can deflect in a first direction, and below a reverse transition temperature, it can deflect in a second, opposite direction. The steel plate attached at the rim together with the bimetallic spring plate, upon deflection of the spring plate, is also displaced in the first direction, and thereby, by means of a control element bearing upon its center, opens a switch contact interrupting the current flow to an electrical heating element. In order to enable manual opening and closing of the switch contact pair within the switching element, in a simple manner, a control arm is placed in the rim area of the steel plate, whose control end is rigidly attached to the rim area of the steel plate, and whose actuating end either constitutes a manually operable push button, or is connected to such a push button.