Peer Mediation
Mediate
To intervene between two or more
disrupting parties in order to bring about
an agreement
What is Peer Mediation?
A process of conflict resolution, facilitated
by a neutral, trained peer mediator, in
which students work together to solve
their own problems
Peer Mediation: Beliefs
It takes cooperation and understanding to resolve
conflicts. Peer mediation is based on the following
principles:
Stay clam and control your anger, frustration or
other strong feelings
Focus on the problem and not blame the other
person
Accurately state your feelings and wants
Respect and work to understand different points of
view
Cooperate and create solutions that meet the
needs of everyone involved
Qualities of the Peer Mediator
The Peer Mediator is:
Impartial
An empathetic listener
Respectful
Trustworthy
Willing to help people work together
Principles of Conflict Resolution
Principle 1:
Separate the PEOPLE from the PROBLEM
Principle 2:
Focus on the INTERESTS, not on the
POSITIONS
Peer Mediation Process
Step 1 – Agree to Mediate
Step 2 – Gather Points of View
Step 3 – Focus on Interests
Step 4 – Create Win-Win Options
Step 5 – Evaluate Options
Step 6 - Create an Agreement
Step 1 – Agree to Mediate
Make introductions and define mediation
State the ground rules:
Mediators remain neutral; they do not take
sides
Mediation is Private
Take turns talking and listening
Cooperate to solve problems
Get a commitment from
each disputant to mediate
and follow the ground rules
Step 2 – Gather Points of View
Ask each disputant (one at a time) to tell
his or her point of view about the problem
Listen to each disputant and summarize
following each disputant's statement
Step 2 - Continued
Allow each disputant a chance to clarify by
asking:
Do you have anything to add?
How did you feel when that happened?
LISTEN and SUMMARIZE
Step 3 – Focus on Interests
Determine the interests of each disputant.
Ask:
What do you want? Why do you want that?
Step 3 - Continued
Listen and summarize. To clarify, ask:
What might happen if you don't reach an
agreement?
What would you think if you were in the other
person's shoes (empathy)?
What do you really want?
Summarize the interests. Say:
"Your interests are…"
Step 4 – Create Win-Win Options
Explain brainstorming and state its rules:
Say any ideas that come to mind
Do not judge or discuss ideas
Come up with as many ideas as possible
Try to think of unusual ideas
Write out disputants' ideas
Step 5 – Evaluate Options
Ask disputants to nominate ideas or parts
of ideas
Evaluate options by applying criteria:
Is this option fair?
Can you do it?
Do you think it will work?
Step 6 – Create an Agreement
Help disputants make a plan of action
Get specifics from each disputant:
Who? What? When? Where? How?
Write the Peer Mediation
Agreement.
To complete the agreement, have each
disputant summarize by asking: "What
have you agreed to do?"
Close the Mediation.