Using conflict managers to mediate conflicts in an inner‐city elementary school

Abstract

AbstractThis article examines the effectiveness of an inner‐city peer mediation program in which third‐ and fourth‐grade students were trained as conflict managers to mediate schoolmates' conflicts. The training consisted of one and one‐half days of training in communication, assertiveness, and mediation skills. The majority of the conflicts brought to mediation were relationship problems involving physical and verbal attacks. The premediation strategies students most commonly used were physically and verbally forcing the other person to give in. Mediation most commonly resulted in an agreement to avoid each other in the future. Although females brought more conflicts to mediation, physical aggression was used more frequently in male‐male and male‐female conflicts than in female‐female conflicts.