The Mediation Process

Abstract

This study examined the impact of mediator bias and disputant power over the mediator on acceptance of the mediator and mediator influence. Disputants who perceived the mediator as biased against their side were less accepting of the mediator and less influenced by the mediator than disputants who perceived the mediator as neutral. Disputants with high power over the mediator were more accepting of the mediator but tended to be less influenced by the mediator than disputants with low power. Disputants with high power also used less contentious tactics and reported that they were less concerned about appearing strong to the mediator than disputants with low power. 7here were no interactions between mediator bias and disputant power.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bartunek, J. M. , Benton, A. A. , & Keys, C. B. (1975). Third party intervention and the bargaining behavior of group representatives. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 19, 532-557.

Fisher, R. (1981). Playing the wrong game? In J. Z. Rubin (Ed.), Dynamics of third party intervention: Kissinger in the Middle East. New York: Praeger.

Harnett, D. L. , & Wall, J. A., Jr. (1983). Aspiration/competitive effects on the mediation of bargaining. In R. Tietz (Ed.), Aspiration levels in bargainingand economic decision making (pp. 8-21). Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

Hoffman, M. L. (1977). Sex differences in empathy and related behaviors. Psychological Bulletin, 84, 712-722.

Kipnis, D. (1976). The powerholders. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Kressel, K. (1972). Labor mediation: An exploratory survey. Albany, NY: Association of Labor Mediation Agencies.

McGillicuddy, N. B. , Welton, G. L. , & Pruitt, D. G. (in press). Third party intervention: a field experiment comparing three different models. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Pruitt, D. G. (1983). Negotiation and mediation in the Falklands crisis. Paper presented at the Sixth Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology, Oxford.

Pruitt, D. G. , & Carnevale, P. J. D. (1982). The development of integrative agreements in social conflict. In V. J. Derlega & J. Grzelak (Eds.), Living with other people (pp. 151-181). New York: Academic Press.

10.

Pruitt, D. G. , & Rubin, J. Z. (1986). Social conflict: Escalation, stalemate and settlement. New York: Random House.

11.

Touval, S. (1975). Biased intermediaries: Theoretical and historical considerations. The Jerusalem Journal of International Relations, 1, 51-69.

12.

Underhill, C. I. (1981). A manual for community dispute settlement. Buffalo, NY: Better Business Bureau of Western New York.

13.

Van Slyck, M. R. , McGillicuddy, N. B. , & Pruitt, D. G. (1984). Mediation vs. med/arb. Paper presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto.

14.

Zartman, I. W. , & Touval, S. (1985). International mediation: Conflict resolution and power politics. Journal of Social Issues, 41(2), 27-45.