Introduction:
The idea of Parental Alienation Syndrome was introduced by Richard A. Gardner in the 80’s. While it was introduced in the 1980s by Gardner it has become a controversial topic and is currently referred to as simply Parental Alienation. It can be caused by a combination of a variety of factors.
What will usually occur is that a parent will indoctrinate or influence their child to distrust or dislike the other parent, to the point where the child becomes difficult when it comes time to leave and be with the alienated parent.
A child can then branch off if the alienation becomes bad enough and seek to hurt and injure the affected parent without further influence of the offending parent. However, this issue can be much more complicated. It may simply be the child seeks to not be with the alienated parent for their own reasons. This is a complicated and controversial issue and often requires the help of a family therapist or a trained professional to address.
Key takeaways:
- While there are a variety of diagnosis factors for Parental Alienation, it is best to speak to a medical or psychology professional to see what may be occurring.
- Parental Alienation can be scary, and can damage a relationship with the affected parent, it is important to seek professional help in any case of parental alienation.
What is Parental Alienation Syndrome?
Parental Alienation Syndrome is a disorder in which a child, on an ongoing basis, belittles and insults one parent without justification as a result of the influence of the other parent. They will also resent spending time with the alienated parent and will be difficult to handle when leaving the custodial parent.
Typically children victimized by Parental Alienation have felt forced to choose between their parents and have chosen the custodial parent over the other parent. We are going to present certain criteria a professional may look for when assisting parents and children affected by Parental Alienation.
However, these are just a basic list and come from Gardner’s original introduction of Parental Alienation. This term is already controversial and if you are worried about some form of alienation occurring between divorced spouses we recommend contacting a professional. If you need mediation, give us a call so we can help you in this difficult time.
What are criteria for parental alienation a mental health professional may look for?
Access and Contact Blocking – Criteria 1
The offending parent will actively block access to the children. This may look like planning activities when the alienated parent is scheduled to have the children, or otherwise making it more difficult for the alienated parent to spend time with their child/children. The offending parent may justify this behavior by stating they are doing it to protect their children. They can do this for a variety of reasons and it usually occurs in contentious custody battles.
Unfounded Abuse Allegations – Criteria 2
Unfounded allegations of abuse may be reported against the absent parent. The parent influencing their children may claim that the alienated parent abused the children in a variety of ways. Over half of all allegations of sexual abuse are made when parents are divorcing or in some post-divorce conflict.
While it can be difficult to sort through unfounded allegations and true allegations, any claim of abuse must be treated with the utmost care. Unfounded claims of emotional abuse can be common. Most investigations into emotional abuse uncover disagreements between how the parents want their children raised as the source of the allegation.
Unfounded allegations of abuse can cause long lasting damage to the mental health of the children. They can damage the relationship between the child and both parents in the short and long term. In cases of suspected abuse, whether emotional, physical, or sexual, it is essential to conduct thorough, unbiased investigations to ensure the safety and well-being of the child while also protecting the rights of both parents.
Deterioration in Relationship Since Separation – Criteria 3
This occurs when a relationship that used to be positive and good sours and the child resents spending time with the parent. It is unnatural for a child to become distant to a parent simply because that parent is absent more than their custodial parent. The relationship does deteriorate simply as a result of spending less time with their alienated parent. If there is a rapid change to the relationship it could be a result of Parental Alienation.
Intense Fear Reaction by Children – Criteria 4
Another criteria may be when an intense fear reaction occurs to the alienated parent, or just spending time with that parent, even though there has been no abuse, or trauma in the relationship between the alienated parent and the child. This can be a result of the influence of the offending parent.
The offending parent historically does this in a variety of ways including threatening to the child that the alienated parent may take them away from the offending parent. They may indoctrinate the child to feel like the alienated parent is more likely to cause them harm or severely punish them for not staying with them. These are just a couple examples of how the offending parent influences the child to be fearful of the alienated parent.
The child will then show signs of fear and resentment and be scared upon leaving with the alienated parent. This feeling may resolve itself throughout the stay, but could worsen by the next visit.
Conclusion:
Parental Alienation is a serious and complex issue. It often takes a care team, mediators, and trained professionals to identify and overcome. This article simply seeks to proffer a general idea of what the affected parent may be going through and what trained professionals may be looking for as they approach parental alienation.
Any form of parental alienation is damaging and may have long lasting effects on the child’s wellbeing and future family. If you have questions do not hesitate to reach out to a trained professional as they will offer you the best advice and can develop plans with you to help resolve the issue. If you have any need of mediation, please call Compton and Smith, PA so we can help you in your time of need.
Note: These criteria in and of themselves are not proof that a child suffers from Parental Alienation Syndrome, nor is it an exhaustive list of the cause and factors.
