A structured reflection for improving third party interventions and mediation practice: Reconsidering debrief

Abstract

We make a case for structured reflective practice for improving third-party interventions and mediation decision-making and outcomes. We propose that a lack of awareness of the automatic, intuitive nature of judgments that dominate the fast-paced and uncertain mediation circumstances risk a proper treatment of implicit social-psychological matters driving conflict and suitably addressing substantive issues. Implicit matters include parties' feelings about themselves and relational and process-related issues. The quality of intuitive unconscious decisions could improve by conscious structured reflective practice. This reflection presents a learning opportunity to gain an awareness of unconscious judgments and advance a beneficial interplay between conscious and unconscious processing. To support the significance of conscious, reflective practice for improving automated decisions in third-party interventions and mediation, we present the context of mediation and findings on cognitive processing, intuitive decision-making, expertise, and reflective practice. Empirical findings in negotiation, management, and medicine confirm the effectiveness of structured reflective practice. A research-based, four-dimensional Structured Reflective Instrument (SRI) developed by Tzofnat Peleg-Baker is offered. It was designed to systematically help mediators improve judgments, particularly the response to implicit mediation goals and outcomes. We provide an example of one dimension of the SRI in the Appendix.