Closed-loop control of an energy absorber acting as a damper between two parts that are movable relative to one another. A damping force of the energy absorber, or damper, can be adjusted by way of the change in the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid (MRF), which change can be influenced by a magnetic field of a coil. According to the method it is possible to decelerate an impact or a movement with the lowest possible forces in order to minimize possible consequential damage/loading by way of setting as constant a deceleration as possible, as small a deceleration as possible, by way of using the entire available deceleration travel, and low or zero residual speed at the end of the deceleration travel independently of the moving mass or speed.