Understanding your nervous system in conflict with the authors of Beyond Difficult

Understanding your nervous system in conflict with the authors of Beyond Difficult

From Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron by Cindy Hovington, Ph.D.

November 3, 2025 · 36 min · Season 8 · Episode 34

About this episode

This episode explores the science behind conflict and how our nervous systems and attachment histories influence our responses during disagreements.

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever wondered why you become a different version of yourself during conflict… this episode is going to change the way you see those moments forever. I’m sitting down with psychologists and authors Rachel Samson and Dr. Jessie Stern to unpack the science beneath conflict: your attachment history, your temperament, your nervous system sensitivity, and how all of this shapes the way you argue, withdraw, pursue, or shut down. This episode is not about “how to argue bett...

People in this episode

Host: Cindy Hovington

Guests: Rachel Samson, Dr. Jessie Stern

Topics covered

  • nervous system
  • conflict resolution
  • attachment history
  • temperament
  • psychology
  • communication styles

Keywords

  • nervous system
  • conflict
  • attachment
  • psychology
  • communication
  • temperament
  • withdraw
  • argue
  • shut down

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Beyond Difficult

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