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How Our Worldviews Shape Our Practice

Goldberg, Rachel M.. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, Jan. 1, 2009

This article describes the major research and theories on worldviews in mediation and raises the concern that mediators with a dominant-culture worldview may obscure some of their real impact on negotiations. The author interviewed conflict resolution practitioners and conducted narrative and metaphor analysis to uncover mediators' worldviews and correlate them with practice moves. Participants were placed at various points along a continuum of worldviews, ranging from individualism at one extreme to collectivism at the other. The author concludes that while pure neutrality is not a realistic goal, given the inescapable impact of mediators' worldviews, impartiality and operational neutrality may be achieved through remaining conscious of those worldviews and their effect on the process. She writes that being more explicit about one's values, rather than attempting to deny or eradicate bias, may serve to empower the parties to mediation.

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