The Dynamics of Navajo Peacemaking: Social Psychology of an American Indian Method of Dispute Resolution

Source: (2005) In, Nielsen, Marianne O. and Zion, James W., editors, Navajo Nation Peacemaking. Living Traditional Justice. The University of Arizona Press. Tucson pp.85-96

This chapter attempts to answer those questions [often raised about peacemaking by visitors]. IT will examine the nature of offenders, some of the group dynamics or problems that are associated with crime, and individual psychological barriers or excuses usually offered by offenders; and it will describe how Navajo peacemaking addresses those problems. This is not a chapter on social psychology, but it does address many of the common excuses offered by offenders, which can be described using the approaches of social psychology. (excerpt)