Th is study explores mediator stylistic variations in a sample of professional and novice mediators. Participants mediated the same simulated confl ict and reported on their in-session thinking using a stimulated recall procedure. Mediators described themselves as stylistically eclectic, but this was not borne out by observational data. Multidimensional scaling identifi ed two dimensions underlying mediator performance: stylistic orientation (relational versus settlement oriented) and level of empathic attunement. Qualitative analysis identifi ed facilitative and evaluative variants of the settlement orientation and transformative and diagnostic variants of the relational orientation. Th e facilitative and diagnostic mediators performed more skillfully than their evaluative and transformative counterparts.

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