Communication in social mediation and its opportunity for Comunity Development

Abstract

Community development improves the transformation of social structures and synergies, also leads social groups to a social coexistence that generates welfare. Our main objective is to identify the professional mediator’s communication skills wich facilitate decision-making and dialogue processes in order to generate initiatives for the development of social groups. This study is qualitative descriptive and applies a self-fulfilling survey instrument to a representative sample of active social mediators in Catalonia (Spain). As main results, communication skills should be emphasized as the central role of the mediator role, which should be used to promote effective dialogue and active listening strategies among the parties to the conflict. In addition to the identification of the mediator as an agent of social development by influencing the social empowerment of those involved and favoring their self-perception as socially active agents.