Abstract
Mediation is a creative, humanistic, and flexibly-structured process in which an impartial individual or individuals (third party) help disputants identify their individual and mutual interests and perhaps reduce or resolve their differences. Many disciplines and organizations have contributed to the field of mediation. One of these influences, the discipline of sociology, has assisted with the theoretical analysis of conflicts and dispute intervention mechanisms such as mediation. Clinical sociology, a subfield of sociology, not only has contributed to the theoretical analysis of conflicts and conflict intervention techniques, but clinical sociologists also are involved in conducting mediations and establishing and improving mediation systems This chapter defines mediation and then identifies and discusses five clinical sociological contributions to the field of mediation: multilevel system intervention, cultural competency, empowerment, integrated theoretical analysis and redefinition of the situation.
This chapter is based on “Contributi della Sociologia Clinica alla Mediazione” (Fritz 2006b) as well as Fritz, ed. (2014).
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Notes
- 1.
Larry Connatser (2019), an extension specialist with Virginia State University, says “owners and managers of small, medium and large businesses, farms and home-based enterprises across the United States have begun to recognize the wisdom of avoiding litigation in favor of (mediation) a friendlier settlement of disputes.”
- 2.
Transformative mediation stresses the empowerment and recognition of parties so that parties can discuss current and future issues in a more productive way (Bush and Folger 1994).
- 3.
Some refer to this idea as “cultural humility” (Kersey-Matusiak 2019:6).
- 4.
Sociologist Margaret Herrman and her colleagues (2001) identified “cultural and diversity competency” as one of thirteen skill areas and “cultural issues” as one of eighteen knowledge areas that are important for mediators who intervene in “interpersonal disputes (e.g., community, employment, family or smaller commercial disputes).”
- 5.
Laue, a clinical sociologist, was asked by President Carter in 1979 to chair a commission to create a national academy to teach peacemaking techniques. The commission’s work led to the establishment of the U.S. Institute of Peace, an independent, nonpartisan federal institution that promotes research, education and training on international peace and on conflict resolution. Gerald Cormick has a Ph.D. in business administration and more than 50 years experience mediating and facilitating complex disputes in the United States, Canada and other countries. He is a principal in the CSE Group, a conflict resolution consulting firm.
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Fritz, J.M. (2021). Clinical Sociological Contributions to the Field of Mediation. In: Fritz, J.M. (eds) International Clinical Sociology. Clinical Sociology: Research and Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54584-0_11
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