"Fractionation, Framing, Reframing"

When it comes to conflicts in relationships in general, there are many different tactics to solving them. As the book describes, mediation a way of solving those conflicts. A mediator is defined as a neutral third party who has no decision-making power regarding the outcome of the mediation. If the mediator is successful, one strategy is known as fractionation. It is defined as breaking down complex issues into smaller, more manageable ones. An example of using fractionation usefully in a relationship that is not interpersonal would be a problem within thyself. My brother is not very responsible when it comes to money. It became a serious problem last year when bills were not being paid. He was too embarrassed to talk about it. So he took the conflict as a whole and broke it down into the little conflicts that drove hi, to this issue in the first place. From there he was able to figure it out himself and begin his journey to success. Another technique is known as framing. This is where mediators ask neutral or friendly questions that avoid blame or passing judgment and summarize issues. A classic example of this would be a conversation with a police officer once you have been pulled over. He/She asks questions to and figure out the conflict before suspicion and bias come into play. One last technique is reframing where mediators restate negatively loaded, biased statements. An example of this would be in the courtroom when a lawyer is asking the other people on trial questions.