The reconstructionist model of mediation: a social constructionist view of the quest for meaning to make sense of loss : from empowerment and recognition to relational learning around loss as an access-to-justice measure

This thesis aims to develop a theoretical explanation for a social constructionist model of mediation. It does so by relying on the relevant interdisciplinary ideas in a number of disciplines including psychology and law. It addresses the need to re-conceptualize mediation as a genuine method of dispute resolution that can handle the impact of loss on the psychological well-being of the parties when engaging with the profession of law. It makes the claim that effective mediation requires the parties to move forward psychologically from their dispute/loss by re-conceptualizing their own meaning of ‘justice’ around the loss so that the loss can be more effectively endured. It takes us from the transformative model to a social constructionist model of relational learning as a means of making sense of loss by placing the dispute in the wider social context to become in itself, an agent for grass-roots social change.