COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEDIATION IN THE PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA

This study investigated the mediations of 125 community mediators in t he People's Republic of China. The mediators' reports on two mediation s each-one in a community (inter-family and one in a family (intra-fam ily) dispute--indicated the frequency with which they used 33 mediatio n techniques. In family (versus community) mediations, Chinese mediato rs were found to rely more heavily upon the techniques of separating t he parties, getting assistance from third parties, calling for empathy , stating the other side's point of view, and utilizing logic. As for the strategies (combinations of techniques) employed, we found three d istinct ones-separate, analyze together, criticize-in the family media tions. Two sets-reason together and criticize-were detected in the com munity mediations.