gain insights and increased awareness.
Ocher concepts that share the premises of the CINERGY™
model include the following:
• Clients are the experts on themselves.
• Clients are able to move forward when they identify their
previous successes, including the ability to make changes and
recognize what is already working.
• Clients are expected to be accountable to cake action in chis
process.
• Understanding and acknowledging the other person’s perspective
is an important aspect of reconciling differences.
• Individualized goals, and the clients’ definition of success in
reaching them, are pivotal for measuring progress.
• Small, incremental changes are signs of progress.
These brief descriptions of principles from various approaches to
mediation and ADR reflect some aspects of the CINERGY™ model
of conflict management coaching. The methodology behind its framework
that emerged in the experiential study of the evolution of group
members’ conflicts and disputes is also supported by recent research
into the human brain. Some findings from this research form the third
pillar, to be discussed next.
The Pillar of Neuroscience
In an interdisciplinary field such as coaching-which, among other
things, is about people making changes in their lives-coaches are
learning a great deal from the advances in research relating to the
brain. Similarly, the ADR field has taken an interest in how neural
activity has an impact on emotions, decision-making, creativity and
so on.
The concept of interpersonal biology, as described by Daniel
Siegel, 15 joins cognitive neuroscience with psychotherapy and reflects a
focus on brain function and structure chat develop within the body
and in relation to other people. Social cognitive neuroscience 16 integrates
areas of research traditionally within the purview of social
psychology, such as attitude change and emotional regulation. However,
it uses methods usually employed by cognitive neuroscientists,
including functional brain imaging and neuropsychological analysis.
This part of the chapter considers findings from these areas of
study chat are relevant to the CINERGY™ model. The references here
merely touch upon the extensive research and work of many scientists,
academics and others who are expanding our knowledge about how
we can change our lives by better understanding our brains.
Focusing Attention
Focusing attention facilitates new thinking.
One recent and highly significant discovery is chat concentrated attention
and intention help to form new neural pathways that can
change the way we think and feel. Neuroplasticity refers to the property
of the brain that allows it to change itself. It springs from the root
words “neuro” for neurons (the nerve cells in the brain) and “plastic”
in the sense of being able to change and adapt. According to research,
people must first increase the “attention density” in specific circuits of
their brain before they can alter their patterns of chinking. Attention
density refers to the quality and quantity of the focus paid-a focus
chat brings into play the Quantum Zeno Effect, described as follows:
This [attention density] is a basic principle of quantum physics-
the rate of observation has marked measurable effects on
the phenomenon being observed. The Quantum Zeno Effect
for neuroscience application states that the mental act of focusing
attention holds in place brain circuits associated with
