Arguments are an inevitable, often uncomfortable part of life and interpersonal communication. Whether it is a heated disagreement over household chores, a tense workplace tussle over project deadlines or a deeply personal debate with a partner, conflict can quickly trigger our most defensive instincts. When tension rises, our heart rates spike, our vision narrows and our brain’s default reaction is often to protect our ego—and ourselves—at all costs. In these moments, many people double down, raise their voices or shut down entirely—turning a potential path to understanding into an exhausting battle of wills.
Yet, we have all met that rare individual who seems miraculously immune to the destructive cycle of fighting. During an intense disagreement, while everyone else is scrambling to defend their pride, this person remains composed, attentive and surprisingly grounded. They do not throw fuel on the fire, nor do they retreat into passive-aggressive silence. Instead, they say something that instantly shifts the entire temperature of the room: “Let’s look at this from a different angle.”
According to psychological experts, this simple, eight-word sentence is not just a polite conversational buffer. It is a powerful marker of high emotional intelligence (EQ or EI) and advanced cognitive flexibility. Using this phrase demonstrates a rarer psychological ability: stepping back from the heat of the moment to explore constructive solutions without letting personal ego hijack the conversation.
Related: 12 of the Best ‘I Statements’ to Use in Arguments, According to Psychologists
Why This 8-Word Phrase De-Escalates Conflict Instantly
When tensions boil over, most people instinctively treat a debate like a zero-sum game: if you win, I lose. This binary mindset creates a defensive posture that leads people to talk over one another or flat-out dismiss opposing viewpoints.
Using the phrase “Let’s look at this from a different angle” breaks that cycle immediately. It invites collaboration instead of confrontation, reframing the dispute from a battle between two opponents into a shared problem to be solved together.
“This phrase shows their willingness to explore alternative perspectives and find novel solutions,” explained Dr. Gayle MacBride, PhD, LP, a psychologist and the co-founder of Veritas Psychology Partners, in a previous Parade report on high-level thinking phrases.
Rather than getting bogged down in defensive reactions, people who utilize this approach zoom out to see the whole situation at once.
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“Instead of juggling pots and pans, you’re juggling complex ideas, patterns and abstract concepts,” she noted in the same article. “It involves stepping back from the immediate details to view the bigger picture, making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas and employing critical and creative thinking skills to solve problems in innovative ways.”
By inviting the other person to examine the situation from a fresh perspective, emotionally intelligent individuals remove the immediate threat from the interaction. The other party no longer feels pushed into a corner, allowing both sides to lower their guard and engage in genuine problem-solving.
The Power of Perspective-Taking and Open-Mindedness
Emotionally intelligent individuals—who are often high-level thinkers—understand that changing how you look at a problem is not a sign of weakness or surrender. It simply means you value finding a resolution over being right. In fact, acknowledging that alternative viewpoints exist without instantly feeling threatened is a hallmark of strong self-assurance.
“People with high-level thinking tend to have a lot of conviction in the things that they say because they’ve been able to establish their own belief system around the thoughts and ideas they have,” explained Dr. Elisabeth Crain, PsyD, a doctor of psychology and licensed psychotherapist, in the same Parade article.
Related: Psychologists Say the 1 Neutral Phrase That Instantly Shuts Down a High-Conflict Person Isn’t What You Think
At the same time, she emphasized that emotionally intelligent individuals “recognize and acknowledge other ways of thinking. They know that thinking is not linear or concrete.”
Psychologists note that this capacity to pivot seamlessly between firm convictions and open curiosity is what separates high EQ communicators from the rest.
“The benefits of high-level thinking are akin to having a Swiss Army knife for your brain,” Dr. MacBride highlighted. “It enhances your problem-solving abilities, makes you more adaptable to change and improves your capacity to understand others’ perspectives.”
When you use language that reopens the floor to curiosity, you signal that your self-worth is not tied to winning an argument. Instead of letting conflict tear relationships apart, high-EQ individuals use moments of friction as opportunities to build deeper mutual understanding.
Adapted from Parade’s “If You’re a High-Level Thinker, You Likely Use These 13 Phrases, Psychologists Say” by Beth Ann Mayer
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Dr. Gayle MacBride, PhD, LP, is a psychologist and the co-founder of Veritas Psychology Partners. Dr. Elisabeth Crain, PsyD, is a doctor of psychology and licensed psychotherapist.Hence then, the article about if someone uses this 8 word phrase in an argument they have high emotional intelligence psychologists say was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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