Family Conflict

Introduction Mediation is a facilitative strategy that has received much attention. It involves intervention by a neutral third party who guides the process but allows disputants control over the outcome. The mediator as facilitator or communicator serves as a channel of communication among disputing parties focusing on ensuring continued discussion and dialogue (Quinn, Biswas, and Wilkenfeld, 2006). The mediator may provide information concerning relevant legal issues, help disputants engage in perspective taking, guide them toward a realistic settlement, and helps improve the relationship between them, or engage in some combination of these tactics (Jameson, 2001). In this paper the writer will mediate a family conflict that involves two parents and 2 two teenage children. Each parent work full-time and are in executive level positions that require a lot of travel or late hours. As a result the children are left home a lot unattended and tend to fight all the time. Their academics are suffering because of the constant fighting with one another while the parents are not home. The older of the two dictates what should be done. The entire family is now unhappy and there seems to be constant fighting whey they are all together. As mediator I will discuss the process to assist this family. Fisher and Sharp (2004) stated “Many power struggles in the family center around vying for love, affection, notice and attention from one or both parents” (p. 125). Since parents hold the places at the top of the hierarchy and are primarily the caretakers, they are in high demand (Fisher and Sharp, 2004). This demand may have a holistic impact on the family. “The mediation process is a powerful tool for satisfying human needs and reducing suffering for parties” Bush and Folger, 2005 (p. 9). Each family scenario has different needs and the writer will provide information from her course readings and other peer reviewed articles related to mediation for the purpose of

References: Baruch-Bush, R.A. and Folger, J. (2004). The art of managing everyday conflict:understanding emotions and power struggles. Westport, CN: Praeger. Cross, S. & Rosenthal, R. (1999). Three models of conflict resolution: Effects on Intergroup expectancies and attitudes. Journal of social issues, Fall 1999. Dana, D. (2001). Conflict resolution. New York: McGraw-Hill Deutsch, M., Coleman, P., and Marcus, E. (2006) The handbook of conflict resolution (2nd). San Francisco, CA:Jossey-Bass. Jameson, J. (2001). Employee Perceptions of the availability and use of interest-based, right-based, and power-based conflict management strategies. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 19(2), p. 163-196. Joyner, F. (2000). Bridge building: Enhancing the Possibility of partnerships. The Journal for quality and participation, 23(3). Pruitt, D., Kim, S.H. (2004). Social Conflict: Escalation, Stalemate, and Settlement (3rd ). New York. McGraw-Hill. Quinn, D., Biswas, B., Wilkenfeld, J. (2006). Mediation style and crisis outcomes. The Journal of Conflict Resolution, 50(1) p. 58-86.