Podcasts, powerpoints and/or papers from the presentations are available to LEADR members and
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Understand key instinctual emotional systems, particularly the “panic system” or "separation distress system"; as well as how to recognise and practically work with emotional response patterns during a mediation.

Modern humans have the same basic emotional equipment as our primitive ancestors. We have “hard wired” emotional operating systems, designed for survival, which drive our emotional states. Key systems identified by researchers are rage, fear, lust, seeking/vigilance, play, care and panic.

Of particular importance is our “panic” system (sometimes referred to as our “separation distress system”), which is survival based and engages whenever we are experiencing separation, real or imagined, from others. Research has shown that even the perceived threat of social exclusion activates the same parts of the brain as physical pain (Eisenberger et al., 2003).

Recent developments in affective neuroscience and psychology provide fresh knowledge and tools for understanding the role our “panic” system plays in individual and organisational conflict. Having a deeper and more precise understanding of this system, and the associated response patterns that play out in relationships, can be “the difference that makes a difference” in conflict resolution.

This presentation synthesises, and gives application to, the latest thinking and research in this field. Areas covered will include:

• Understanding key instinctual emotional systems, with an emphasis on the “panic system”; and
• How to recognise and practically work with emotional response patterns during a mediation.

Participants will watch a research video which evokes a powerful experience of the “panic/separation distress” system engaging. Through a conflict case study, drawn from a number of real mediations, participants will be given opportunities to recognise individual emotional response patterns of those involved in the dispute. The case study also explores how a mediator can help the parties shift their response patterns to create opportunity for connection, rather than further separation, thereby providing the platform for agreement. It is anticipated that participants, through their engagement with the video and the case study, will also gain insight into their own “separation distress” responses.

Podcast: Listen to John talk about this session pre-kon gres (8 mins) >>

John is a man of many talents and passions – his family, fly fishing and table tennis foremost amongst them. John was Australian Fly Fishing Champion in 1994 and represented Australia in several World Championships. More importantly, despite the valiant efforts of his four young adult children, John recently won the prestigious 2011 Sautelle Family Table Tennis Championship! John lives in Canberra with his wife Anne, sons Tom and Sam and their dogs Dom and Millie.