You'll fight with your partner. Fights can escalate over minor issues like who's doing the dishes that night. No argument needs to turn into a brawl, and thinking before you speak can prevent your words from making things worse.
"You're overreacting," "calm down," and "it's not that big a deal" can fuel the fire. Validating your partner's feelings is one way to see things from their perspective.
Avoid name-calling, even in anger. Yelling at your partner or calling them "idiots" creates a hostile environment. This can also create a power dynamic where you degrade your partner.
Gaslighting is manipulative and makes victims feel crazy, so denying your partner's experience can feel like it. Speaking like this will only exacerbate your emotions and put you both on the defensive.
Extreme statements usually provoke defensiveness. After all, these things are rarely true, and harsh generalisations don't allow for real feelings and honest communication.
During a fight, don't threaten to break up if you don't mean it. It signals to your partner that you're done with the relationship. Breakup threats also show that you avoid problems rather than addressing them.
"You're overreacting," "calm down," and "it's not that big a deal" can fuel the fire. Validating your partner's feelings is one way to see things from their perspective.