TICK TOck: time in conflict

As with so many frameworks, there is no correct perspective, however for parties in mediation, it may be an issue to have an excessive focus on any one orientation at the expense of other orientations.  In mediation, you can see how this may work in the room.  
 
We cannot administer the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory on everyone we meet, but we can formulate a hypothesis which may assist us to support the parties in their mediation, or as a party to formulate options and proposals.
 
What time perspective is helpful to a party in mediation/conflict? Boniwell and Zimbardo suggest that a balanced time perspective is optimal for human functioning.
What does this mean?

A balanced time perspective is one where a person is able to shift flexibly between time perspectives depending on the task features, situational considerations and personal resources – as opposed to being biased towards a specific time perspective which is not adaptive, or even maladaptive. 
 
In conflict, I think this means that people need to be able to accept the past has happened, be grounded in the reality of their present and be able to project into their future.
 
We can all think about conflict situations, where people, can appear to be cemented in the past and blame.  However, much you try to shift them to a future focus they insist on returning to the past. 
 
The challenges of this past oriented approach are apparent. Firstly it may stop some one from being able to consider options for the future and to move forward. They may continue to exist in a past negative orientation.  It can easily derail a mediation or negotiation process. In extreme cases, it may antagonise the other party. 

Next week, how can you help someone shift into a balanced time perspective?

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