Besides any general considerations on the structure of mediation, what are the bases of the main mediation techniques? It is well known in fact that a large number of mediation techniques exist with the common purpose to manage cohabitation issues and, in case of conflict, to offer solutions to the social dysfunction that originated conflict. Diversity of techniques mirrors the diversity of the sociological, psychological and anthropological theories behind them. In other words, any mediation technique derives from a view of the human being and the nature of social interaction.
We can grossly identify two fundamental approaches which are likely to comprise all lines of thought. On the one end, the liberalistic idea regards human beings as mainly sentient and rational beings, whose actions are essentially determined by economical motivations and who therefore associate, compete or conflict with their fellows, especially out of "material" interests. The ensuing technique of mediation suggests a sort of "profit maximization": mediation helps individuals or groups to reach mutually satisfying solutions based on a clearly "rational" calculation. On the other end we can place an approach that does not exclude the former one, but emphasizes the "emotional" factor in every human being that makes him a unique and individual character. Each individual, thanks to his/her emotions, is in the position to shape his/her own destiny by developing relations with others, despite any external pressure and conditions deriving from his/her own economic, cultural and social situation. Here the purpose of mediation is the emotional revision of experience aimed at a positive regeneration of the parties involved. In short: mediation has a mainly "transformative" function.
The first approach is essentially "lay" and rational-utilitaristic, the second is mainly creative and "spiritual". The former emphasizes the social contract and the opportunities provided by human cohabitation, the latter underlines the elements of communication and experience. As we said, this extreme model simplification only aims at marking field boundaries where any intermediate approach can be placed that does not necessarily exclude either of the extreme positions.
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