Seeing Theory in Practice: An Analysis of Empathy in Mediation

Bush and Folger (1994) in The Promise of Mediation articulated distinctions between Individualist and Relational ideology, and linked them to specific theoretical orientations to mediation practice, problem-solving and transformative, respectively. Yet, a question persists as to whether these distin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Negotiation journal 1999-07, Vol.15 (3), p.229
Main Author: Della Noce, Dorothy J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Empathy
Ideology
Mediation
Mediators
Problem solving
Social interaction
Studies
Theory
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Bush and Folger (1994) in The Promise of Mediation articulated distinctions between Individualist and Relational ideology, and linked them to specific theoretical orientations to mediation practice, problem-solving and transformative, respectively. Yet, a question persists as to whether these distinctions produce any material differences in practice. This question is approached here through an examination of a single construct in the mediation literature, empathy. The author proposes that the Individualist and Relational ideological frameworks have material implications for the concept and the practice of fostering empathy between the parties to a mediation: The problem-solving framework fosters a social interaction which can be understood as transactional empathy while the transformative framework fosters an interaction described as relational empathy. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0748-4526
1571-9979