THE MEDIATION PROCESS NOW IN USE IN THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ONLY AN ALTERNATIVE TO LEGAL PROCEEDINGS BUT IS ALSO ANTILEGAL SINCE THE PRECIPITATING INCIDENT IS ASSIGNED LIMITED IMPORTANCE AND FORMAL RULES ARE GENERALLY IGNORED. THE ALLEGED VIRTUES OF MEDIATION PROGRAMS ARE THEIR DIFFERENCES FROM REGULAR COURTS. MEDIATORS MEET IN INFORMAL SETTINGS, TRY TO AVOID PROFESSIONAL HARASSMENTS, AND ARE CONCERNED WITH THE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS OF THE DISPUTANTS. A MEDIATION PROJECT AND MEDIATOR TRAINING ARE DESCRIBED AND AN ANALYSIS OF TWO CASES GIVEN. THESE ANALYSES HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IN MEDIATING INTERPERSONAL DISPUTES, PARTICULARLY QUESTIONS ABOUT UNDERLYING CAUSES AND THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PERCEPTIONS CONCERNING THE ROLE OF CONFLICT IN HUMAN INTERACTION. THE ARTICLE SUGGESTS SEVERAL HYPOTHESES TO BE INVESTIGATED IN FURTHER RESEARCH: (1) SUCCESS IN MEDIATION WILL BE RELATED TO THE COGNITIVE ORIENTATION OF DISPUTANTS; (2) MEDIATION WILL FAIL WHERE ADJUSTMENTS ARE INFEASIBLE; (3) MEDIATION CONFRONTS UNDERLYING CAUSES ONLY WHEN THEY LIE CLOSE TO THE SURFACE; (4) MEDIATION IS AMBIVALENT ABOUT MANIPULATION AND COERCION AND WILL BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN SORTING OUT PRACTICAL PROBLEMS OF URBAN LIFE; AND (5) THE DISPUTANTS WILL BE MORE RELAXED, OPEN, AND LESS INTIMIDATED THAN ARE DEFENDANTS AND WITNESSES IN COURT. (MJW)