Integrated positive and negative analyses of cognitive-mediation strategies in the social quarrels

Public disharmony can easily arise in our social conversations, leading to quarrels, disputes, and even conflicts, which can harm our society’s stability and security. Encouraging harmonious communication and interaction in public spaces is considered an embodiment of personal morality and social civilization. However, interlocutors in public discussions often overlook the crucial role of cognitive mediation, which is essential but rarely discussed in previous studies. Drawing on the theory of cognitive mediation, this study analyzes four authentic videos using four different cognitive-mediation strategies that interlocutors may use to mediate ongoing quarrels with evident social disharmony. It also demonstrates how mediators carefully choose their words to prevent the quarrel from escalating into a more negative interaction. The analysis not only illustrates the process of mediating ongoing quarrels but also provides a new model for regulating social interactions that promote communicative harmony in public places. This study has the potential to improve communication education practices in public settings and normalize social communication.