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Initial Contacts with the Disputing Parties 47 the viability of mediation: He asks the respondent to explain why he or she should use mediation, instead of promoting the process himself. This intervenor places the respondent, not the mediator, in the position of mediation advocate. In cases in which the mediator is approached by both par- ties, asignificant psychological step toward a cooperative reso- lution to the dispute has been made. "Implicit in such an in- vited third-party role are two assumptions: first, the disputants are sufficiently motivated to address their conflict that one or both of them are willing to enlist the services of a third party; and second, the third party is regarded as sufficiently attractive by one or both disputants that this party is invited to intervene rather than some other individual. From the third party's van- tage point, an invited role is desirable both because it suggests that the disputants are ready to work and because the third party is placed in a unique position to exercise influence" (Ru- bin, 1981, p. 11). To date, no data exist that correlate joint initiation of mediation to successful intervention. Mediators, however, gen- erally find that a cooperative initiation of mediation by all parties usually minimizes escalatory dynamics between the dis- putants at the beginning of the intervention and indicates will- ingness to solve the dispute to the satisfaction of all. Referrals by interested secondary parties, people who are not principal actors in disputes, are another way that people ob- tain mediation services. Secondary parties include two cate- gories of persons or groups: first, parties who have no direct stake in the settlement of a dispute bait are concerned about the general ramifications of continued conflict; and second, parties who, although they are not principal actors, do have tangible in- vestment in the settlement of a dispute. Examples of the first type of referral include close friends or neighbors who refer parties to a mediator or the intervenor to the parties, or a foundation that is concerned about general community turmoil that could result from escalating conflict (Lansford, 1983). These parties do not have a direct stake in the outcome but do want the dispute settled. Secondary parties who have a more direct interest in the