Neuroscience and Conflict Resolution Blog by Stephanie West Allen
Below is an article with a good overview of a skill and habit that is helpful, probably essential, to both parties in dispute and conflict professionals: focusing a mind that’s wandering. The article also explains some of the neuroscience underlying focus and wandering. From "How to Focus a Wandering Mind" (DailyGood.org):
Reading all this might make you think that we’d be better off if we could live our lives in a constant state of laser-like, present moment focus. But a wandering mind isn’t all bad. Not only can we leverage it to build focus using FA [focused attention] meditation, but the capacity to project our mental stream out of the present and imagine scenarios that aren’t actually happening is hugely evolutionarily valuable, which may explain why it’s so prominent in our mental lives. These processes allow for creativity, planning, imagination, memory—capacities that are central not only to our survival, but also to the very essence of being human.
The key, I believe, is learning to become aware of these mental tendencies and to use them purposefully, rather than letting them take over. Meditation can help with that.
All mediators can gain a basic understanding of the crossover of neuroscience and dispute resolution, which can lead to new breakthroughs working with parties in mediations. When parties hire a...
By Lucia Kanter St AmourIn a recent episode of Insurance Business Talk, JAMS neutral Rebekah Ratliff speaks with host Paul Lucas on her experience as a Black woman in the insurance industry and where...
By Rebekah RatliffFor mediators to maintain an unbiased perspective, especially in the heat of mediation, is challenging! Biases stem from values developed by connections to culture, identity, race, ethnicity, territory and religious...
By Ana Schofield
With the purchase of a Featured Membership, you will be shown on the front page of Mediate.com to web site visitors from your city and region (“state” if you are in the USA). You may appear in more than one city/region by purchasing additional locations.