Storied Conflict Talk

Abstract

Narrative analyses routinely investigate autobiographical and interview data. This book examines narratives-in-interaction co-constructed by participants in formal mediation sessions, by asking how many of the five cases in the videotaped data display the adversarial narrative pattern pervasive within the interpersonal conflict literature, and secondly what other narrative patterns may be present, and how do they work? Focusing simultaneously at the utterance level and the macro-levels present within the larger dispute context, this book reveals situated communicative practices by which interlocutors interactively construct, resist, reproduce, and intertextually transform adversarial narratives to produce outcomes consonant with their underlying interests. In contrast to the dramaturgical model traditionally used in narrative research, this book illuminates the emergent, microgenetic character of narrative development.

Mediator as a Story Recipient in Narrative Mediation: What Types of Questions Should I Ask?

“…The tense relationship may escalate to conflict if interlocutors insist on holding the binary, entrenched and polarized position constructed by their social realities (Stewart & Maxwell, 2010). These realities are the reflection of their understanding of the social world and the cultural value systems they live in (Stewart & Maxwell, 2010).…”

“…Moreover, the complexity of reaching fruition in conflict resolution is compounded by the emergent nature of conflict. As such, the goals of the disputants are not prepackaged and will probably shift in the process of mediation (Stewart & Maxwell, 2010;Street & Cappella, 1985).…”

“…Researchers have also described the general pathways in negotiation as delineated by the "adversarial approach", "problem-solving approach" and "transformative approach" (Moore, 2014;Wilmot & Hocker, 2011). The transformative approach is favored by mediators for its advantages in exploring deeper identity and relational concerns of two juxtaposed positions to solve the conflict in the long term instead of obtaining a written settlement agreement only (Bush, 1994;Stewart & Maxwell, 2010;Wilmot & Hocker, 2011).…”

“…No matter which approach the mediator uses, the result of mediation is the joint product of the choices of disputants with the intervention of a mediator, not the result of isolated tactics employed by either disputants or mediators (Stewart & Maxwell, 2010;Wilmot & Hocker, 2011). Moreover, the complexity of reaching fruition in conflict resolution is compounded by the emergent nature of conflict.…”

“…Through the notion of narratives, the narrative approach also affords a way to understand the dynamics of interaction in mediation (Cobb, 2006;Rifkin et al, 1991;Stewart & Maxwell, 2010;Winslade & Monk, 2000).…”