Outbursts: An Evolutionary Approach to Emotions in the Mediation Context

Abstract

Evolutionary psychology offers a powerful framework for understanding the ultimate function of emotions, and that understanding can be applied usefully in the mediation context. In this article, we first introduce the relevant theoretical foundational assumptions of the evolutionary approach to emotions and then use anger and gratitude to illustrate the evolved functions and effects of emotions on cognition and behavior before exploring specific implications for mediation. We also discuss mediator strategies for leveraging anger and gratitude, as well as the potential for future research applying an evolutionary approach to understanding emotions in mediation.

A Matter of Feelings: Mediators’ Perceptions of Emotion in Hierarchical Workplace Conflicts

“…Emotions are “episodic, relatively short-term, biologically based patterns of perception, experience, physiology, action, and communication that occur in response to specific physical and social challenges and opportunities” ( Keltner and Gross, 1999 , p. 468). Emotions prepare people for action when they are threatened, in the case of negative emotions, or when they see opportunities, in the case of positive emotions ( Frijda, 1986 ; Niedenthal and Ric, 2017 ; Williams and Hinshaw, 2018 ; Revord et al, 2021 ). Mediators often observe many different kinds of negative emotions.…”

“…To date, most studies on emotions in mediation have focused on the importance of addressing negative emotions ( Jones and Bodtker, 2001 ; Jones, 2006 ; Jameson et al, 2010 ; Picard and Siltanen, 2013 ), with few investigating disputants’ broader experience of emotions in mediation or whether mediators are able to accurately perceive these emotions. In addition, most studies are limited to negative emotions, such as anger ( Fitness, 2000 ; Bollen and Euwema, 2014 ; Williams and Hinshaw, 2018 ). Therefore, this study investigates positive emotions, including happiness and enthusiasm, and a broader spectrum of negative emotions, including anger, fear and sadness.…”