Word for something that is emotionally charged in a way that reduces the chances of approaching the subject from an objective point-of-view?
This may be a case where Br Eng says precisely that with emotive
Definition of emotive in English: oxforddictionaries
adjective:
1Arousing or able to arouse intense feeling:
::::animal experimentation is an emotive subject
::::the issue has proved highly emotive
@Jim is right-- using "charged" in this sense-- emotionally charged is potentially the phrase you want. To the point where this dictionary uses emotionally charged in 3 of 4 sample sentences for charged:
charged -
4.3 Fill or pervade (something) with a quality or emotion:
- the air was charged with menace
- Selling your property can be emotionally charged at the best of times but the majority of estate agents will treat the sale sensitively and are happy to arrange accompanied viewing.
- As a student, Telegdi often raised quite a stir with his emotionally charged attempts to raise student interest in issues such as housing and enumeration.
- During the emotionally charged gathering, a statue was unveiled.
A close synonym to charged is fraught:
Causing or affected by great anxiety or stress
You could say the issue is fraught. Or the issue is charged, though both are far more commonly used in conjunction with an adverb or noun. "emotionally fraught" or "fraught with emotion" being more common than a simple "fraught."
And perhaps the best if you want to factor in preconceptions, bias, is loaded
(of statements or questions) charged with associative significance and often meant to mislead or influence
... which is a definition being stretched from defining only "questions." Ngram shows "loaded issue" increasing in usage.
Such topics are usually referred to as "hot-button issues".
Noun 1. hot-button issue - an issue that elicits strong emotional reactions
Such issues can be termed sensitive.
sensitive:
- highly delicate; requiring prudence: sensitive diplomatic issues.
Free dictionary
Such issues are contentious
adjective
causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
(Google)
and (as that definition says) controversial
adjective
giving rise or likely to give rise to controversy or public disagreement.
(Google)