How Parties Experience Mediation

This book presents an unprecedented qualitative research study on relational changes in mediation with a truly interdisciplinary outset, drawing on the literature on psychology, alternative dispute resolution and business. Mediation's potential to induce changes in parties' relationships as an advantage of the process is commonly mentioned in the literature. However, despite its being a key to reconciliation, relational changes in mediation has not yet been a topic of foundational and fine-grained qualitative enquiry. As the first study in the literature, this research uses in-depth interviews with mediation parties and the qualitative methodology of interpretative phenomenological analysis in order to explore participants' lived experiences. The phenomenological stance ensures a particularly rich data set and a nuanced interpretative analysis. This pioneering piece of research seeks to enter mediation parties' true experiences as closely as possible, moving beyond pre-existingtheoretical, quantitative and large-scale qualitative explorations. The themes are discussed in the context of theory, research and practice. Therefore, this book advances knowledge about mediation both in theoretical and practical terms. Innovative conclusions and recommendations are provided for developing mediation practice, mediation training programmes, and further research.

Examines mediation parties' real and personal lived experiences of mediation and relationship change Presents five individual case analyses allowing the reader a most profound and unprecedented insight into each participant's personal story of conflict and mediation Provides a nuanced exploration of common patterns identified across cases Offers a great number of varied perspectives enabling the reader to compare and contrast the meaning of mediation in an exceptionally in-depth manner Blends theoretical depth and practical perspectives in an interdisciplinary context Ample recommendations are provided for practice and research in the broad area of mediation. Offers insight for practitioners working in the broad field of conflict and dispute resolution, including mediators, lawyers, HR practitioners, conflict coaches

Contenu
Part 1.- Contextualising Relationship Changes in Mediation. - Introduction.- Relationship Change in Various Areas of Mediation: The Rationale of This Study.- Exploring Foundational Concepts: Relationship, Interpersonal Conflict and Mediation as an Intervention.- The Methodological Choice: Exploring Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.- Part 2.- Individual Case Analyses: Personal Understandings of Conflict and Mediation. - Linda: Experiences of a Mediation That Triggers Personality Development.- Bob: Mediation as Experiences of Breaking the ´Barrier´and Unrealistic Expectations.- Jeff: Breaking Through Self-Serving Bias? Mediation as Targeting Destructive Cognitive Processes.- Emily- Experiences of Mediation as Denial and 'Sham': Mediation as a Problematic Choice.- Grace: Opposing Experiences of Two Mediations: The Importance of Parties' Openness and Insight.- Part 3.- Overarching Common Themes and Discussion. - Interpretations Across Cases: The Overarching Analysis.- Discussion and Conclusion: Implications for Practice and Research.