Managing Emotional Hot Buttons Can Help You Reduce Conflict: Here’s How To Do It If you're looking to minimize conflict and move toward compromise, anticipating the issues that will likely trigger you and your spouse / ex will help you de-escalate the situation. By Andra Davidson Updated: April 07, 2023 Categories: Children's and Parenting Issues after Divorce , Co-Parenting after Divorce , Coping with Divorce , Divorce Process , Divorce Recovery Reducing Emotional Hot Buttons What is a Hot Button? According to Merriam-Webster, a Hot Button is an emotional or controversial issue or concern that triggers an immediate, intense reaction. Managing them can have a significant positive impact on the process and outcome of divorce. Blame it on our Lizard Brain Our “Lizard Brain” is the ancient survival mechanism that manages our fight/flight response when our ego, image, or self-esteem is threatened. When this part of the brai...