Self-determination, empowerment and empathy in mediation: Rehumanising mediation's effectiveness

This paper canvasses the concept of self-determination in the context of mediation, including examples of the range of interpretations that appear in the mediation literature and of the reported paradoxes and limitations to its implementation. The paper also explores Self-Determination Theory and the relevance of its core components to the practice of mediation. Empowerment, empathy and rapport are reviewed because they, too, are considered to be important to effective mediation. It is proposed that such an approach clarifies the differences between self-determination, empowerment, and empathy in mediation, and has the capacity to address some of the limitations that have been associated with self-determination in the context of mediation. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research in the mediation field.