Communication majors would make good mediators because the
formal training offers practical applications of many skills that are taught in
communication courses. Comm majors have the background for the basic training
and it is somewhat of natural fit for them. We learn multiple ways of speaking
and not just one. It could be difficult
for lawyers to be an effect mediator, since they are used to taking sides and “wining”
it for one person. A mediator is a neutral 3rd party person who
helps to resolve the conflict and to find a mutual agreement amongst the people
involved. A lawyer is used to favoring one party and helping them get what they
want. They might tend to lean towards one party and not effectively help the
other party out. So lawyers might not be so great at mediating. A psychotherapist might find it difficult as
well since they would tend to focus on the “victim” and do what would make them
happy and point out the effects of the problems. You need someone that isn’t trained
to favor one side but who can make a neutral decision and help out both
parties.
Roro,
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that you mentioned was that the basic training for mediators comes very natural to communication majors. I agree 100% with your opinion because everything that mediators must know, communication majors have already learned at least a small portion of it. Like you said, we are taught multiple ways of speaking and how to address others that speak to us in different manners. As communication majors, we are already being taught how to be unbiased, unlike lawyers and psychotherapists in our classes since communication is between two people. Listening is a huge part of mediation and communication, which is how the two go hand-in-hand. Great post!
Roro,
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of the points that you made in your post. I too feel that communication courses teach many of the skills that are learned through taking formal training courses. I feel like communication majors are extremely well rounded and are able to really take in everything they are seeing during a mediation. I also agree that lawyers and psychotherapists would make poor mediators. They are too wrapped up in the way they think to change and be able to remain neutral and unbiased. Like you said, lawyers are used to being on one side. I also agree that psychotherapists are used to primarily siding with the victim.