Learning Objectives
Upon reflecting on this post, you can anticipate having a:
- More refined comprehension of mediation, including its adaptability across various contexts, from individual disputes to societal issues;
- Consideration of significant areas where mediation is applied, such as family disputes, workplace disagreements, and international relations;
- Recognition that essential elements of mediation involve expanding and developing solutions that are mutually acceptable and advantageous;
- Reflection on how compromise and collaboration can help to achieve mediated management practices and favourable outcomes;
- Grasp of how incorporating visuals alongside text can help to convey narratives;
- Identification of methods to uncover the underlying interests and needs that inform conflict-saturated narratives;
- Analysis of how varying perceptions of reality contribute to conflict and strategies to reconcile differences in ideas, values, and beliefs; and,
- Exploration of the psychological and cultural influences that shape conflicting realities.
Topics Covered
This blog post includes a rich array of topics related to mediation, conflict management, and the integration of visual arts and texts to facilitate these processes. These ideas include:
1. From Mediation to Realities in Conflict
- Mediation and tts applications: An overview of what mediation is and where it can be applied, from personal conflicts to broader societal issues;
- Towards mediated solutions: Discusses how mediation can lead to solutions that are shared and satisfactory for the disputants involved;
- Lessons learned from the 1800s: Historical insights into mediation and conflict management practices from the 19th century and their relevance today;
- Weaving together visuals and text: The importance of combining visual elements with written content to create a more compelling narrative in mediation;
- Competing stories: Understanding that in mediation, disputants often have competing narratives, and the mediator’s role is to help uncover underlying patterns; and,
- Realities in conflict: Examines how different perceptions and realities contribute to conflict and the need to bridge these gaps.
2. Actions: Active Engagement to Optimising Interconnections
- Participating in online mediation: The rise of digital mediation platforms is changing the way conflicts are managed;
- The journey to reconciliation: Steps and processes are involved in moving from conflict to reconciliation;
- The stories we tell: Explore how storytelling is useful in mediation to help disputants understand each other better;
- Mediation and cycles of feedback: Continuous feedback loops can help in refining mediation strategies and approaches. However, they can also be counterproductive when disputes in relationships become stuck;
- Changing conflict lenses: Encourage a shift in perspective to see conflict from different angles, fostering empathy and understanding;
- Intertwining the visual arts and texts: Explore the visual arts further and examine their potential to enhance textual content to aid in conflict management, and,
- Charting interconnections: Map out the interconnections between different aspects of a conflict and how these can be addressed.
3. Creating Generative Pathways and HOW TO CONTACT US
- Generative pathways to healing conflicts: Develop constructive and creative ways to heal and move past conflicts;
- Mediation, creativity, and pragmatism: Balance creative approaches with practical solutions in mediation practices;
- Choices in mediation: Highlight the importance of options and autonomy in the mediation process;
- Conflict and limiting opportunities: Comprehend how conflicts can limit growth opportunities and foster ways to unlock human potential;
- Entrenched positions: Identify deeply held beliefs and positions that can hinder conflict management and address them;
- Mediation and transformative approaches:
- Think about transformative mediation, which is often aimed at changing relationships and perspectives rather than just resolving isolated issues; and,
- The Visual arts revisited: Reflect on the use of visual arts to provide fresh insights and approaches in mediation.
Online Mediation; Visualising the Stories We Tell
The content found on the Internet is frequently subject to change and is often not permanent. According to Katsh and Rifkin (2001):
“Nothing on the Net, nor the Net itself, should be considered to be like a painting, a work of art, or even a book, that is only revealed to the public when it is completed and final” (11).
Generally, mediation is a voluntary procedure that can improve the alignment of interests and interdisciplinary understanding (Barsky, 2000). Online mediation is enabled by information and communication technology (Braeuitigam, 2006). Read more about this area by visiting Mediation Systems.
Mediation and Its Applications
Conflict management can successfully transfer to personal, work-based, and learning contexts. Furthermore, mediation skills could be helpful in the following sample areas.
- Employers and employees;
- Environment, for instance, land use;
- Industrial relations disputants;
- Commercial participants;
- Retailers and suppliers; and,
- Private and public relationships.
Towards Mediated Solutions
If you disagree with others and the obstacles are substantial and deeply rooted, online mediation may be the solution. You could prefer to meet other disputants in physical rather than virtual space. The distance can be reassuring, especially initially until tensions have been lessened. Broadly, a mediator can conduct a session, participating in communication through a digital platform and a conventional in-person meeting.
Lessons Learned from the 1800’s
You can become more aware of interpersonal problems through photography. Since the 1800s, visual arts like photography and texts have been used in different ways to transform societies. Furthermore, the visual arts can make online processes more effective by adding to the text, dealing with problems, issues, needs, creating choices, making agreements, and monitoring systems (Barsky, 2000).
Imagine being able to go back in time to the 1840s and working on the railroad in the Selkirk Mountains, building trestles. In this environment, being able to mediate disputes could be crucial to your survival.
Weaving Together Visuals and Text
You can work together to enhance in-person meetings with a digital platform. Some disputants may be able to attend in person, while others could only be able to participate online. Generally, we can build captivating and innovative worlds making virtual reality feel authentic.
Prior research on mediation that integrates technology may have overlooked the advantages of enhancing written explanations through the integration of visuals. All in all, you should find visuals, whether digital or not, to be significant. Additionally, by using pictures and stories that are meaningful you can transform conflict.
Competing Stories
You may have prepared to manage conflict by beginning a pre-mediation process. it is important to recognise that despite your best endeavours, conflicts could persist and pose unique challenges. Furthermore, your approach to disagreements is shaped by a variety of perspectives, principles, and beliefs, both your own and those of others.
You by engaging in pre-mediation and mediation can access a powerful mechanism for beginning to transform conflicts with others. Accordingly, by embracing this approach, you can effectively address current and future personal and social conflicts.
Realities in Conflict
Your values and beliefs often become apparent through your communications, including your stories. Furthermore, you may notice that there are unhelpful patterns that contribute to conflicts. Generally, the causes of these tensions could well be unknown as they have been buried long ago. Moreover, one way of communicating thoughts, emotions and reminiscences is through the respectful sharing of visual images and stories.
You may find negotiation, mediation or another model of conflict management starts by reflecting on:
- How disputants define their conflict;
- What are the disputes contributing factors? For example, differences in ideas, values and beliefs;
- What are the emotional, social, and financial costs of the disputes?;
- How often does the discord occur?; and,
- How might the disagreements be resolved?
Participating in Online Mediation
When you participate in online mediation, you are often involved in an active process of lessening conflicts through a digital environment. Generally, you, through this method are drawing on online communication technologies facilitating discussions and negotiations. Moreover, if you are geographically isolated, this method could prove especially beneficial.
You can find that face-to-face sessions are not possible due to time limitations, mobility constraints, or concerns regarding public health. All in all, online mediation is typically convenient, cost-effective, and readily available. You may when working with a mediator, be supported in pinpointing issues, brainstorming alternatives, and devising solutions.
Disputants during the online mediation process may exchange introductions, receive a definition and explanation as to why mediation is taking place. All things considered, a mediator’s role includes helping disputants to arrive at an agreement with which they can all live; or at least for the next months (Boulle, 2005; Bush & Folger; 1994; Sourdin, 2005). Disputants could plan for a future follow-up meeting.
The Journey to Reconciliation
The road to reconciliation can be multifaceted and unique (Katsh & Rifkin, 2001). Moreover, there are many ways to manage conflict. These approaches include arguing, asking for a binding decisions, and using computers to negotiate and mediate. Various authors, such as Barsky (2000), Boulle (2005), Braeuitigam (2006), and Morreim (2015) have discussed mediation models. Altogether, disputants are often given opportunities to obtain confidential information in mediation to bring about reconciliation.
The Stories We Tell
Boulle (2005; 2001) referred to storytelling featuring experiences and current needs. Moreover, Boulle (2001) suggested that by being buried in the past disputants may find it challenging to move beyond blame and attribution errors to present possibilities. Additionally, some conflicts occur over several years (Boulle, 2005; Winslade & Monk, 2001). Altogether, to begin to understand dysfunctional patterns it is important to evaluate what is adding to conflict.
The art of storytelling aids in reflecting on your intricate cultural narratives. Furthermore, you are provided with an opportunity to share a metaphorical story to promote healing. All in all, gather your documents and review the issues where you agree and disagree to map out the depth and breadth of the conflict. Moreover, you can by using a checklist, add visuals to your story and promote an intersectional perspective. Boulle (2005), White & Epson (1990), and Winslade and Monk (2001) explore intersectional interests.
Mediation and Cycles of Feedback
When we have a grasp of the conflict process, we can begin to dismantle the cycles of feedback. Furthermore, these cycles could be driven by disagreement and pessimism (Winslade & Monk, 2001). As an illustration, insidious, dysfunctional patterns are often made worse by false information. Consequently, competition for modest resources and different beliefs could stop shared ideas from being born (Barsky, 2000, Macfarlane, et al., 2003).
Communications may run in real time through video portals and delayed or asynchronous interaction such as email (Cebola & Monteiro, 2024). However, people in online environments can lose the benefit of non-verbal communications (Martin, 2021). Nonetheless, Katsh & Rifkin (2001) and Boulle (2001) said that online ways to communicate have strong strengths. For example, disputants may meet in virtual reality across physical locations, and easily, and quickly receive information.
Changing Conflict Lenses
White & Easton (1990) “the reading and writing of texts, insofar as every new reading of a text is a new interpretation of it.” (9) Evidently, White & Easton (1990) posited that reading and writing texts are like changing the way we see things. Consequently, each time you read a text, you may get a another way of interpreting stories.
Sourdin (2005) referred to disputants applying visual means to understand their preconceived notions. However, these ideas could be driving the conflict. Photography has the potential to deepen interdimensionality, context, and engagement (Boulle, 2005; Hausken, 2024). The use of both written and visual elements to show daily realities in conflict may not have been fully understood and used.
Boulle (2005; 2001) mentioned that language is often unclear. Certainly, using visual aids can help people understand each other better and make things more peaceful. Text and visuals serve as tools for language recognition and development. These could help in facilitating important discussions (Barsky, 2000; Winslade & Monk, 2000).
Intertwining the Visual Arts and Texts
The benefits of combining visual arts and texts with mediation may be limited by our imaginations, the existing literature, and practical wisdom. Basically, the many visuals and texts can help you express your feelings in a clear way.
Intertwining the visual arts and texts could support you to feel calmer during difficult times. For example, changing and putting together photos from people, families, or groups can cause many different responses, including releasing information, feelings, and memories. Accordingly, this is because of the unique way a photo shows its subject matter. Usually, the choice of an approach to mediate depends on the disputants and the help they access.
Charting Interconnections
By incorporating a suitable combination of visual aids, texts that are filled with conflict can be alleviated. Altogether, these aids could provide a deeper understanding of how narratives may be interconnected.
Bogdan and Biklen (1982) said that photos not only show a general idea of a situation, but they also give specific details that can be used in other ways. Using photography and other visual media gives us important information about people’s experiences and situations. Generally, this helps us make big changes in relationships.
Ramsbotham (2010) said mediation can be used to record different stories and memories, sometimes in varying ways. It allows for the exploration of complex aspects of a place or individual life struggles.
Through images, multiple perspectives may be gathered to identify fundamental problems and recurring conflicts. Additionally, photography safeguards the memory and significance of a place. Moreover, photographs give many ways to find important issues and topics that reduces ongoing arguments.
Online Mediation and Generative Pathways to Healing
Technology drives creativity and innovation (Cebola & Monteiro, 2024):
- Identifying obstacles to compelling conflict and stress reduction;
- Exploring and learning how to recognise and create your style to address conflict;
- Considering the critical meaning of concepts, principles, and terms related to conflict management and stress;
- Adapting your preferred communication styles and learning techniques and devices, including stories; and,
- Storied approaches to working through conflicts can facilitate healing. Are your realities in conflict? Is conflict part of your never-ending story? Textual resources may be broadened to encompass a suitable combination of texts and the arts.
Mediation, Creativity, and Pragmatism
Professionals, policymakers, and managers can use flexible and creative ways to manage conflict. For example, disputants may reframe conflict-saturated stories until they reach an agreement. According to Bush and Folger (1994), the central concept of the Transformation Story emphasises the importance of encouraging individuals to become more ethical and to transform their character, ultimately becoming more resilient and compassionate.
The integration of visuals and narratives serves to cultivate empathy towards the perspectives of others. Additionally, when disputants understand the broader context and the challenges associated with compromise and change, they may be more likely to mediate (Boulle, 2001). Generally, there are benefits to using pragmatic, theoretical, and integrated systems-based approaches to healing conflicts.
A system is more than the sum of its parts (Barsky, 2000). For example, one change on an issue or a need could usher in a change in the entire system. Moreover, thoughts and behaviours may become entrenched, challenging the system to become balanced. Generally, the visual arts and story lines can start important conversations for many reasons, including building empathy and diplomacy, economics, education, rules, and communication. All things considered, these creative and original approaches help map out conflict, and its impacts on relationships and well-being.
Choices in Mediation
Mediation plays a crucial role by providing disputants with various options and alternatives, thereby reducing the need for people to strongly advocate for their own interests (Boulle, 2001). Broadly, mediation presents an opportunity to rescind or vary previous agreements. The visual arts are a means to brainstorm areas of disagreement as people work towards addressing needs and reconciliation. Moreover, this approach can potentially improve communications between disputants.
You may have encountered disputants who do not tackle the underlying issues of discord. Instead, they may try to avoid tensions by making excuses as to why expectations were not met (Ramsbotham, 2010). All in all, conflict often gathers momentum when disputants switch the subject, plead helplessness and ignorance of relationship challenges. This in turn may trigger aggressive reactions, interrupting conversations, increasing complaints, sarcasm, and clumsy silences.
Conflict and Limiting Opportunities
Conflicts are likely to take a toll on disputants’ social, psychological, political, and economic opportunities. Subsequently, people may feel alone in society and work, have problems with intimacy, and hurt in relationships.
Online Mediation and Entrenched Positions
You could find that these stuck positions contribute to your suffering. Moreover, you could notice that conflict loops become self-perpetuating. Under these circumstances, tensions are likely to become exacerbated. Generally, conflicts call for empathetic understanding and comprehensive solutions. All in all, conflicts are an inevitable aspect of life that can offer chances to modify maladaptive physical, social, and emotional behaviours.
Disputes will likely affect defence, psychological research, education, and training to deal with the threats of relationship breakdown from people, groups, and nations. All things considered, relationships have advantages, including quality time with kin and friends.
Online Mediation and Transformative Approaches
Transformative approaches to mediation provide a means to explore priorities, and expectations. Moreover, these ways provide opportunities to work the conflict-saturated stories:
- Grouping and mapping achievable goals;
- Critically appraising exceptions where there is little disagreement; and,
- Facilitating movement towards closing the gap and resolutions.
Online Mediation: The Visual Arts Revisited
The visual arts, including photography, are linked to qualitative research. Basically, they have been used in different ways since the 1800s to look at and work through current issues, complaints, and feelings. For example, Cebola & Monteiro (2024), applied a qualitative framework for content analysis and narrative explanations. All things considered, visual and narrative methods offer a means to untangle conflicting firmly held beliefs.
You may not agree on all needs, priorities, and issues, but you can make the conflict smaller. Furthermore, facilitative approaches help to realign the field with the changing aspects of disputants and mediators. Generally, enforcement may not be enough to uphold peoples’ rights and interests. We need to facilitate attitudinal change.
You may have shown promising skills in recognising and applying effective mediation techniques, both in personal and professional settings. Altogether, enhancing your abilities with further support could be extremely beneficial. Let’s further examine the mediation framework and discuss tactics that could help you handle conflicts more effectively.
During the pre-mediation phase, we could conduct a phone call to introduce our services. Generally, this initial conversation typically lasts around 30 minutes and your first call is usually free of charge.
Online Mediation: In Closing
This blog post examined the following topics:
Transitioning From Mediation to Realities in Conflict
- Mediation and its applications;
- Towards mediated solutions;
- Insights from the 1800s;
- Integrating visuals and text;
- Competing narratives; and,
- Conflicting realities.
Initiatives: Proactive Involvement in Enhancing Interconnections
- Engaging in online mediation;
- The path to reconciliation;
- The narratives we share;
- Mediation and feedback loops;
- Shifting perspectives on conflict; and,
- Fusing visual arts with text.
Establishing Productive Pathways and Methods for Reaching Out to Us
- Mapping interconnections;
- Establishing productive pathways and methods for reaching out to us;
- Innovative pathways for conflict resolution;
- Mediation, creativity, and practicality;
- Decision-making in mediation;
- Conflict and restricted opportunities;
- Fixed positions;
- Mediation and transformative strategies;
- A reassessment of visual arts; and,
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How to contact us.
References
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Barsky, A.E. (2000). Conflict Resolution for the Helping Professions. Wadsworth.
Bogdan, R.C. & Sari Knopp Biklen, S.K., Qualitative Research for Education (1998). An Introduction to Theory and Methods (3rd ed.). Allyn and Bacon.
Boulle, L. (2001). Mediation Skills and Techniques. Butterworth’s.
Boulle, L. (2005). Mediation Principles Process Practice. Butterworths
Braeuitigam, A.M. (2006, Summer). Fusses that fit online: online mediation in non-commercial contexts. Appalachian Journal of Law, 5 (2).
Bush, R.A. & Folger, J.P. (1994). The Promise of Mediation. Responding to Conflict Through Empowerment and Recognition. Jossey-Bass.
Cebola, C. M. & Monteiro, S.S. (2024). New Trends of Digital Justice: The Online Mediation—Between a Challenge and a Reality (The Portuguese Legal Framework).
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/laws13020018
Farrier, D. & Stein, P. (2006). The Environmental Law Handbook (4th ed.). Redfern Legal Centre.
https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/NSWBarAssocNews/2006/44.pdf
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Hausken, L (2024, June). Navigating the Complex Terrain of Photography and Temporality. Philosophies, 9 (3).
https://www.hf.uio.no/imk/english/people/aca/lhausken/index.html
Katsh, E. & Rifkin, J. (2001). Online Dispute Resolution. Resolving Conflicts in Cyberspace. Jossey-Bass.
Martin, E. (2021). The Rise of Online Mediation: Lessons from the E-Commerce Marketplace. GP Solo, 38 (1).
Macfarlane, J; Manwaring, J., Zweibel, E. & Hamilton, J.W. (2003). Dispute Resolution Readings and Case Studies (2nd ed.). Emond Montgomery.
Morreim, H. (2015, Winter). Conflict resolution in the clinical setting: a story beyond bioethics mediation. Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, 43 (4).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26711422/
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Ramsbotham, O. (2010). Transforming Violent Conflict. Radical disagreement, dialogue and survival. Routledge.
Sourdin, T. (2005). Alternative Dispute Resolution (2nd ed. ). Thomson Lawbook.
Winslade, J. & Monk, G. (2000). Narrative Mediation. A New Approach to Conflict Resolution. Jossey-Bass.