He worked with schools, a juvenile offenders program, a family mediation service in Dublin, and neighborhood groups. He noticed that people have trouble in confronting those with whom they are in conflict, usually avoiding them. He and his Irish colleagues tried to create a positive view of conflict among the people, even though this was a hard task to do in the context of the violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. People of the two communities perceived the other side as being inhuman. Barry Hart believes that mediation skills can promote change in people's attitudes toward each other and in the ways they handle conflict, toward mutual recognition and use of nonviolent methods.
Mediation can help people to move beyond their positions to understanding of their interests.
Mediation is not a certain cure, but it helps people to view conflict as serving positive functions for them and their relations with others.