Raising Awareness of Potential Biases and Microaggressions: Applications to Mediation

Abstract

“Neutrality” or “impartiality” are well accepted and practiced values that are important cornerstones of mediation; nonetheless mediators usually bring biases and preferences with them into the room, as do the parties. Mediators are responsible for becoming aware of these biases, especially when they are unconscious, so that they can conduct themselves in an impartial manner. Mediators sometimes can encourage parties to bring their biases into the open where they can be dealt with more effectively. Especially difficult kinds of insulting behavior are “microaggressions” defined as minor slights that are usually well-intended by parties and mediators. This article is intended to raise awareness of biases and microaggressions, and to suggest means for preventing them and ways of responding to situations in which they commonly occur.