Interaction Dynamics Predict Successful Negotiation in Divorce Mediation

Though communication is a process that unfolds over time, it has been difficult to study it as a dynamic process. This article examines the process of real-life divorce mediations as a dynamic system. First, the article sets out a paradigm of an interaction dynamic, revealing underlying dynamic patterns of frame coordination and how those patterns predict successful negotiation. Second, the article details a methodology for studying communication features dynamically. Finally, an analysis of 15 anonymous divorce mediations is conducted. Results largely support the predictions of relational order theory.