Psychology and Dispute Resolution: Looking Forward

Authors

Jennifer K. Robbennolt

Abstract

There is a long and deep history of interconnection between dispute resolution and psychology. Concepts like procedural justice permeate the literature. Psychologists have investigated and provided data about phenomena such as the fixed pie bias, impasse aversion, and reactive devaluation. Research drawing on the psychology of heuristics and biases has been influential, particularly in work on settlement decision making. Studies in this tradition have explored how framing, anchoring, anticipated regret, and different ways of considering options can influence the decisions made by disputants. Psychologists have explored the role of apologies in dispute resolution, the role of emotion in negotiation, and how participants in dispute resolution processes persuade and influence each other. Advice about mindfulness is grounded in neuropsychology. These are just a few examples of the range of existing connections between dispute resolution and psychological research.

Recommended Citation

Jennifer K. Robbennolt, Psychology and Dispute Resolution: Looking Forward, 2025 J. Disp. Resol. (2026)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/jdr/vol2025/iss2/9