Emotions and empathy in mediation

Mediation is a conflict resolution procedure in which commitment and cooperation through the intervention of a neutral third party take place. The objective of mediation is to diminish the aggression and confrontation tone that are often characteristic of litigious disputes (Garcia 2000). Despite the pacifist spirit in which mediation is intended to be conducted, various (negative) emotions associated with the conflict often emerge. The mediator must know how to manage the emotional tenor of the encounters to achieve mutual understanding between the parties. Empathy, therefore, is at the center of the interaction. According to the model of empathy applied, the goal and the result of the mediation will vary. In the present article, we reflect on the interrelationships between emotions and empathy in terms of the main ideological frameworks of mediation: individualistic and relational (Della Noce 1999).