What is Peer Mediation? Everything You Need To Know
Did you know that you can resolve conflicts without resorting to violence? It’s called peer mediation.
The Peer mediation process is an increasingly popular way to handle disputes, especially in schools. That’s because it teaches conflict-resolution skills that can last a lifetime. It also gets results: Studies have shown that meditation can reduce the incidence of fighting and improve academic performance.
So, what is peer mediation? This blog post will walk you through everything you need to know, including the basics of mediation, the benefits of peer mediation, and how to get started.
What is Peer Mediation Anyway?
Peer mediation is a process where two people in conflict meet with a trained mediator to resolve their differences.
The mediator helps the parties communicate effectively and understand each other’s points of view.
Mediation is voluntary, meaning that both parties must agree to participate. It is confidential, which means that anything said during mediation cannot be used later in court or anywhere else. And it is informal, meaning there are no evidence or procedure rules.
The mediator does not take sides or make decisions for the parties. Instead, the mediator facilitates communication and helps the parties to reach their agreement.
Peer mediation can resolve conflicts of all kinds, including disagreements between friends, roommates, family members, co-workers, and even strangers. It is an effective way to resolve disputes quickly and peacefully.
The Benefits of Peer Mediation
There are many benefits to using peer mediation to resolve conflict. Some of these benefits include:
Benefit #1: Peer Mediation Teaches Important leadership Skills and Problem solving skills
One of the main benefits of peer mediation is that it teaches people skills that can be used in other areas of their lives.
When individuals learn how to communicate with and listen to others effectively, they are better equipped to handle conflict in all areas of their lives.
In addition, when individuals learn how to resolve conflict through mediation, they can use those same skills in future conflicts at home and work.
Not only does peer mediation teach important life skills, but it also provides an opportunity for people to practice those skills in a safe and controlled environment.
Benefit #2: Peer Mediator Helps People Respect Others’ Points of View
Another benefit of peer mediation is that it helps people respect others’ points of view.
For mediation to be successful, both parties must be willing to listen to each other and understand where the other person is coming from.
This process can help improve relationships by teaching people how to see things from another person’s perspective and understand their needs and wants.
In addition, by working together towards a mutually-agreeable solution, both parties can feel like they have been heard and that their needs have been taken into consideration—which can further improve the relationship.
Benefit #3: Peer Mediation Empowers People To Take Charge Of Their Own Lives And Solve Their Problems
In our daily lives, we often rely on others—such as authority figures or customer service representatives—to help us solve our problems.
However, this reliance can sometimes make us incapable of solving our problems or taking charge of our lives.
Peer mediation empowers people by taking charge of their problems and finding solutions that work for them.
This experience can help build confidence and self-efficacy—which individuals can then carry into other aspects of their lives.
Benefit #4: Peer Mediation Can Quickly And Effectively Resolve Conflicts
Another great benefit of using peer mediation to resolve conflict is that it can often do so quickly and effectively—without involving authorities or going to court.
When two parties can sit with a mediator and openly communicate with each other, they can often find a resolution much faster than if they were relying on someone else (such as a supervisor or judge) to make decisions for them.
In addition, because both parties have agreed upon the resolution themselves, they are more likely to comply with it—further saving time and energy down the road.
Benefit #5: Peer Mediation Can Build Community By Bringing People Together To Solve Problems
Finally, another benefit of using peer mediation is that it has the potential to build community by bringing people together to solve problems.
When neighbors mediate disagreements between each other or when students mediate conflicts at school, it helps create a sense of community—as everyone is working together towards a common goal (i.e., resolving disagreements).
Furthermore, when members of a community mediate conflicts amongst each other rather than relying on outside sources (such as law enforcement), it helps build trust within the community—as individuals feel like they can rely on each other rather than feeling like they need an outside source (such as the police)to keep them safe.
As you can see, there are many benefits associated with using peer mediation to resolve conflicts.
The next time you find yourself in a disagreement with someone, consider giving peer meditation a try!
Not only will you be resolving your current conflict, but you’ll also be gaining valuable life skills that you can use in future conflicts.
Draw Backs Of Using Peer Mediation
Despite its many benefits, peer mediation is not without its drawbacks.
To decide whether or not peer mediation is right for your workplace, it’s important to understand some potential downsides.
Potential difficulty in maintaining the confidentiality
One of the key aspects of mediation is the ability to maintain confidentiality. It can be difficult to do when mediating between co-workers, as opposed to between strangers.
To protect confidentiality, it’s important to remind participants that what is said in mediation stays in mediation. Additionally, workplace mediators should receive training on how to maintain confidentiality.
The potential for conflict between the mediator and participants
When co-workers mediate a dispute, there is always the potential for conflict between the mediator and participants.
To avoid this, mediators must remain impartial and objective at all times. Mediators should also receive training on handling conflict between themselves and participants.
The potential for bias
Another drawback of peer mediation is the potential for bias. When co-workers mediate a dispute, they may be biased towards one party. To avoid this, mediators must remain impartial and objective at all times. Mediators should also receive training on how to avoid bias.
How Does the Peer Mediation Work?
The steps in peer mediation will vary depending on the mediator, the situation, and the people involved. However, some general steps are often followed:
The mediator meets with each person involved in the conflict individually.
It allows each person to share their side of the story and express what they hope to achieve through mediation without being influenced by the other party.
The mediator brings the parties together for a joint meeting.
It is an opportunity for both sides to share their perspectives and begin to understand where the other is coming from.
Once both sides have been heard, the mediator helps the parties brainstorm possible solutions to the problem.
All solutions should be considerate of both parties’ needs and wants. It means that a resolution is not possible unless both parties agree to it.
The parties decide on a resolution they are both satisfied with and commit to following through with it.
Both parties must agree to the resolution and feel they have been heard before making any decisions.
The mediator follows up with both parties after some time has passed to ensure that the resolution is still being followed and that there are no new problems or issues. This allows any bumps in the road to be addressed early on so that further conflicts can be avoided.
FAQs About What is Peer Mediation?
Who can be a mediator?
Anyone can be a mediator as long as they have received training in mediation skills. Peer Mediators typically come from diverse backgrounds, including educators, counselors, social workers, and community leaders.
How do I get started with peer mediation?
If you are interested in starting a peer mediation program, many resources are available to help you get started.
Conclusion: What is Peer Mediation?
Peer mediation is a process where two people in conflict talk to each other with the help of a trained mediator. The mediator’s job is to facilitate communication and help the parties involved come to a resolution.
Peer mediation has many benefits, including teaching people important skills, resolving conflicts quickly, and building community spirit. Consider using peer mediation to solve the problem if you have a conflict with someone.
