{"id":{"repo_id":"wilfrid-laurier","oai_identifier":"oai:scholars.wlu.ca:etd-1157"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/wilfrid-laurier/oai:scholars.wlu.ca:etd-1157","repository":{"repo_id":"wilfrid-laurier","name":"Wilfrid Laurier University","base_url":"https://scholars.wlu.ca/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Examining the problem of power in divorce mediation: A naturalistic inquiry","abstract":"How problematic is power imbalance in divorce mediation? Research in the last fifteen years has drawn attention to this issue, resulting in criticisms levelled at mediation from women’s groups, lawyers and others. Using six in-depth interviews with Ontario divorce mediators, this study examined power imbalance and its management. Three main themes emerged from the findings related to power: (1) the ‘emotional readiness’ of the couple, (2) the effects of the legal system, in particular, the relationships with lawyers, and, (3) physical intimidation and financial intimidation. Techniques employed by the mediators were similar across the interviews. These findings led to a redefinition of the problem of power in divorce mediation. Specifically, this perspective suggests that the problem with power in mediation may lie in its management by mediators, legal professionals, and government. Implications for practitioners, mediation organizations, and public policy are discussed in light of professional responsibility in divorce mediation.","abstract_html":"How problematic is power imbalance in divorce mediation? Research in the last fifteen years has drawn attention to this issue, resulting in criticisms levelled at mediation from women’s groups, lawyers and others. Using six in-depth interviews with Ontario divorce mediators, this study examined power imbalance and its management. Three main themes emerged from the findings related to power: (1) the ‘emotional readiness’ of the couple, (2) the effects of the legal system, in particular, the relationships with lawyers, and, (3) physical intimidation and financial intimidation. Techniques employed by the mediators were similar across the interviews. These findings led to a redefinition of the problem of power in divorce mediation. Specifically, this perspective suggests that the problem with power in mediation may lie in its management by mediators, legal professionals, and government. Implications for practitioners, mediation organizations, and public policy are discussed in light of professional responsibility in divorce mediation.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Hermer, Shelley Lynne"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Social Work (MSW)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Social Work","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Luke Fusco","Eli Teram"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1997,"date_issued":"1997-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"1997-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-08-21T16:51:03Z","subjects":["Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/158","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"source_record":{"url":"https://scholars.wlu.ca/do/oai/?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=oai_etdms&identifier=oai%3Ascholars.wlu.ca%3Aetd-1157","prefix":"oai_etdms"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Luke Fusco","Eli Teram"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Hermer, Shelley Lynne"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["1997-01-01T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Social Work"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Social Work (MSW)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/158","https://scholars.wlu.ca/context/etd/article/1157/viewcontent/MQ24381.PDF"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["How problematic is power imbalance in divorce mediation? Research in the last fifteen years has drawn attention to this issue, resulting in criticisms levelled at mediation from women’s groups, lawyers and others. Using six in-depth interviews with Ontario divorce mediators, this study examined power imbalance and its management. Three main themes emerged from the findings related to power: (1) the ‘emotional readiness’ of the couple, (2) the effects of the legal system, in particular, the relationships with lawyers, and, (3) physical intimidation and financial intimidation. Techniques employed by the mediators were similar across the interviews. These findings led to a redefinition of the problem of power in divorce mediation. Specifically, this perspective suggests that the problem with power in mediation may lie in its management by mediators, legal professionals, and government. Implications for practitioners, mediation organizations, and public policy are discussed in light of professional responsibility in divorce mediation."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Examining the problem of power in divorce mediation: A naturalistic inquiry"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Luke Fusco","Eli Teram"],"dc:creator":["Hermer, Shelley Lynne"],"dc:date":["1997-01-01T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description":["How problematic is power imbalance in divorce mediation? Research in the last fifteen years has drawn attention to this issue, resulting in criticisms levelled at mediation from women’s groups, lawyers and others. Using six in-depth interviews with Ontario divorce mediators, this study examined power imbalance and its management. Three main themes emerged from the findings related to power: (1) the ‘emotional readiness’ of the couple, (2) the effects of the legal system, in particular, the relationships with lawyers, and, (3) physical intimidation and financial intimidation. Techniques employed by the mediators were similar across the interviews. These findings led to a redefinition of the problem of power in divorce mediation. Specifically, this perspective suggests that the problem with power in mediation may lie in its management by mediators, legal professionals, and government. Implications for practitioners, mediation organizations, and public policy are discussed in light of professional responsibility in divorce mediation."],"dc:identifier":["https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/158","https://scholars.wlu.ca/context/etd/article/1157/viewcontent/MQ24381.PDF"],"dc:subject":["Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling"],"dc:title":["Examining the problem of power in divorce mediation: A naturalistic inquiry"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Social Work"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Social Work (MSW)"]},"updated_at":"2026-08-21T16:51:03Z"}