Umbreit's Humanistic Mediation: A Transformative Journey Of Peacemaking

These mediation proceedings are not conducted under oath, do not follow traditional rules of evidence and are not limited to developing the facts. Mediators are expected to draw out the parties' perceptions and feelings about the events that have brought them into conflict. It also encourages parties to acknowledge

A special research field in the mediation literature intends to shed light on the question, how influential the impact of mediator’s characteristics and motivations on the mediation process is. Concerning the state of research, the studies of this debate show a divergent picture. There are scientists who have queried the significance of mediator’s impartiality (Bercovitch/Houston 1996; Kydd 2003, Touval 1982; Zartmann/Touval 1996). Scholars like Saadia Touval have underpinned that mediators are often biased and can perform their tasks just as well if not better as impartial mediators. Additionally, Touval and Zartmann stated in their study that mediation is an exercise in power politics: “leverage is the ticket to mediation” (Touval/Zartmann 1989: 129). In 2003, Kydd finds that mediators use their leverage to one of the two conflicting parties and therefore constraint concessions. Thus, the mediator must be biased to be effective. This means that merely a mediator who is biased towards one side can credibility tell them that the opponent will not make peace without the concession. Carnevale and Arad (1996) also remarked the importance of bias. Nevertheless, they suggest that impartiality should not be underestimated and therefore be taken in to consideration.

Throughout this course thus far we have generically discussed the various models of mediation(in particular facilitative),skills and tasks needed by a mediator to conduct a successful mediation. The facilitative approach we have been studying, via theory and in-class exercises has afford us some great insight into mediating into a variety of domestic conflicts from family to business disputes.However,there is a whole other subfield in mediation ,which we have not discussed and that is international mediation. International mediation also has a variety of forms. Cases for mediation can range from a conflict between two states, an ethnic conflict that, has bought violence within a particular state, or perhaps a business dispute between

The study of peace can often be complex and multifaceted due to its multidimensional outlook on certain cultural, political and environmental influences. As the United States entered the spring of 2017 it saw itself becoming more polarized and conflicted. The election of Donald J. Trump has provoked many emotions for Americans but whether good or bad, republican, or democrat, it has most noticeably been a year of difficulty. Unity is an aspect that people from both sides of the isle have been questioning and trying to address. In Trump’s first extended statement as president-elect, he used unity as a deliberate theme, stating:

Human Services is a fascinating field. Throughout this field, there are many different ways which one can help their fellow man. During my travels of re-education, I have learned how much one can help and how much people need help from others. Through this assignment, I came across the following websites which reaffirmed my mission in life; to care and help for others.

Fells (2016, p. 211) wrote “ just as a doctor works to bring a person back to health, so too a mediator works to bring a deadlocked negotiation back to a situation where the parties can reach agreement”. This essay discusses this statement with reference to contemporary research on dispute resolution. In order to comprehend how this is achieved, we must consider the essence of mediation, the different types of mediation and what mediators do. Negotiation and mediation are process used to resolve opposing preferences between parties. Negotiation is defined in Fells (2016, p. 3) as “a process by which two parties with differences that they need to resolve try to reach agreement through

This paper discusses a cross-cultural conflict scenario in which a mediator must apply the appropriate skills to resolve the conflict. In order to resolve these types of conflicts mediators must apply a non-bias approach to the conflict because the mediator must perceive and identify the cultural differences in order to appropriately resolve the conflict. The mediator must facilitate communication, and they must invoke trust with the disputants for successful cross-cultural conflict resolution.

Besides Satir’s stance of not remaining neutral during the therapeutic process she asserted that the counselor must take on many different roles such as a facilitator, a role model, a mediator, and a teacher and educator (Rasheed, Rasheed, & Marley, 2011). Additionally, the counselor must also strive to be the best that he or she can be as they are the most important tool found in the therapist’s toolbox and not how many interventions or techniques that are known. Counseling is about connecting with fellow human beings on a deeper level than most clients are accustomed to. Satir knew this which is why “she believed that the therapist him- or herself is the therapist’s main intervention tool” (Rasheed, Rasheed, & Marley, 2011, p.

Despite having no mediation experience prior to this class, I immediately excelled in a few areas of mediation. Namely, I did well with the introduction, exuding confidence, and helping the disputants move toward a resolution. Each of these skills is extremely important for mediators as they help set the tone, maintain control of the conversation or accomplish the goal of mediation. Of course, I improved with I practice, but I performed admirably in each of these arenas from the outset.

Therapy is often said to be just as much of an art as it is a science. Namely because there is so much that goes into it. To create a successful therapeutic relationship, there are some key elements that need to be a part of the formula. Each therapist may end up having a different recipe, but it is important that a therapist knows what ingredients he or she may need and what they can add for it to be successful. Throughout this paper, this writer will discuss characteristics she hopes to embody as a therapist, as well as the values and skills she wishes to bring with her into a therapeutic relationship.

In this week’s readings I noticed a mention about the notion of women as “natural” peacemakers, which I took an interest in. In a previous class, we talked about masculinities and how gender specific characteristics can affect the peacebuilding process in different ways. In the journal, Women and the Art of Peacemaking, I read that there were Israeli-Palestinian workshops held that focused on changes in the political activity between men and women. I found it interesting because it mentioned how the genders approached problem solving in different ways and were often based off a “social psychological understanding of the dynamics of international conflict.” This meant that individuals are able to see the potential for change but it is often

The awareness of these major differences in perception is very beneficial. This leaves both parties suddenly aware of what led to the dispute at hand. A careful consideration of the different positions, important issues, and alternate perceptions can give everyone an understanding of how difficult it is for a judge and/or jury to come to a fair conclusion. Who is right? Who is telling the truth? Who can prove their claims with proof?

Consider how an imbalance between 'high power' and 'low power' parties might shape a negotiation process. How might an experienced mediator deal with this problem? Provide practical examples where appropriate.

This paper will cover the difference in the negotiation process and the mediation process and explore some of the barriers that hinder the processes. There is a distinct difference between the negotiation process and the mediation process. Negotiation as defined in Essentials of Negotiation is a process by which two or more parties attempt to resolve their opposing interests (Lewicki, Saunders, and Barry, ) The Negotiation process happens when individuals disagree about a situation and there’s no mutual solution that can be attain by the two parties. The disagreement leads to a conflict which involves misinterpretation, miscommunication and hurt feelings. Because the parties cannot reach a mutual agreement on how to resolve their

 "Effective conflict resolution requires dealing constructively with disagreements rather than pushing them under the rug, letting them break into open warfare, or attempting to eliminate them completely.  Successful resolution of a conflict may include the following: accurate diagnosis of the nature and source of the conflict, a clear understanding of how each party is contributing to the conflict, skills and processes for defining alternatives, constructively negotiating outcomes, and creatively developing win-win resolutions" (Hagberg Consulting Group, 1).