The Mediation Process

This study examined the impact of mediator bias and disputant power over the mediator on acceptance of the mediator and mediator influence. Disputants who perceived the mediator as biased against their side were less accepting of the mediator and less influenced by the mediator than disputants who perceived the mediator as neutral. Disputants with high power over the mediator were more accepting of the mediator but tended to be less influenced by the mediator than disputants with low power. Disputants with high power also used less contentious tactics and reported that they were less concerned about appearing strong to the mediator than disputants with low power. 7here were no interactions between mediator bias and disputant power.