Abstract
Because of the many problems associated with litigating divorce disputes, mediation has been proposed as an alternative. Its proponents, claiming wide-ranging benefits for both the litigants and the legal system, have had tremendous success in advancing mediation in social policy. This article critically assesses the validity of these claimed benefits. The article first considers the role of pro se representation and its potential consequences for evaluating divorce mediation because of the increased use of pro se representation in these cases. The article then articulates the goals attributed to the mediation procedure and its clients, identifies the behavioral assumptions underlying those goals, and critically reviews the social science research and theory that have directly tested the validity of the goals and assumptions or are indirectly relevant to the analysis (B. D. Sales, 1983). It is concluded that the goals of divorce mediation may have been and may be overly optimistic. The implications of these findings for mediation practice and policy are considered.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 989-1056 |
| Number of pages | 68 |
| Journal | Psychology, Public Policy, and Law |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - Dec 2000 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
Cite this
A critical reappraisal of divorce mediation research and policy. / Beck, Connie J A; Sales, Bruce D.
In: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, Vol. 6, No. 4, 12.2000, p. 989-1056.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A critical reappraisal of divorce mediation research and policy
AU - Beck, Connie J A
AU - Sales, Bruce D.
PY - 2000/12
Y1 - 2000/12
N2 - Because of the many problems associated with litigating divorce disputes, mediation has been proposed as an alternative. Its proponents, claiming wide-ranging benefits for both the litigants and the legal system, have had tremendous success in advancing mediation in social policy. This article critically assesses the validity of these claimed benefits. The article first considers the role of pro se representation and its potential consequences for evaluating divorce mediation because of the increased use of pro se representation in these cases. The article then articulates the goals attributed to the mediation procedure and its clients, identifies the behavioral assumptions underlying those goals, and critically reviews the social science research and theory that have directly tested the validity of the goals and assumptions or are indirectly relevant to the analysis (B. D. Sales, 1983). It is concluded that the goals of divorce mediation may have been and may be overly optimistic. The implications of these findings for mediation practice and policy are considered.
AB - Because of the many problems associated with litigating divorce disputes, mediation has been proposed as an alternative. Its proponents, claiming wide-ranging benefits for both the litigants and the legal system, have had tremendous success in advancing mediation in social policy. This article critically assesses the validity of these claimed benefits. The article first considers the role of pro se representation and its potential consequences for evaluating divorce mediation because of the increased use of pro se representation in these cases. The article then articulates the goals attributed to the mediation procedure and its clients, identifies the behavioral assumptions underlying those goals, and critically reviews the social science research and theory that have directly tested the validity of the goals and assumptions or are indirectly relevant to the analysis (B. D. Sales, 1983). It is concluded that the goals of divorce mediation may have been and may be overly optimistic. The implications of these findings for mediation practice and policy are considered.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034563160&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0034563160&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 6
SP - 989
EP - 1056
JO - Psychology, Public Policy, and Law
JF - Psychology, Public Policy, and Law
SN - 1076-8971
IS - 4
ER -