Publications

Publication details [#60726]

Smithson, Janet, Anne Barlow, Rosemary Hunter and Jan Ewing. 2015. The ‘child’s best interests’ as an argumentative resource in family mediation sessions. Discourse Studies 17 (5) : 609–623.
Publication type
Article in journal
Publication language
English
Place, Publisher
SAGE Publications

Annotation

Discursive Psychology is used to examine the claims and arguments which emerge when ‘the child’s best interests’ is adopted as resort in family mediation environs. Data stem from three separated/separating parent pairs trying to settle child contact or lodging disputes via mediation. Claims to the abstract notion of the child’s best interests appear to worsen conflict.