What is parental alienation?

In many high-conflict separations, efforts can be made on the part of one parent to undermine the other parent. Social science literature suggests that if children are exposed to significant amounts of post-separation conflict, some children can be influenced by one parent and being placed in such a loyalty bind can have the effect of a child rejecting the other parent because of the alienated parent with whom the child may be aligned.

Cases that involve allegations of alienation can be challenging. However, not every case where a child resists contact with a parent means that the other parent is “alienating” a child. There may be reasons that a child is resisting contact with a parent, such as affinity or they make take the side of one parent in the dispute over the other. Also, some children may be justifiably estranged from one parent for good reasons where that parent’s behavior warrants that.

Examples of Alienating Behaviors Exhibited by a Child:

• considers the views of one parent all good or all bad
• vicious vilification of targeted person or campaign of hatred
• trivial, false or irrational reasons to justify hatred
• reactions and perceptions unjustified or disproportionate to parent’s behaviors
• extends hatred to extended family and pets
• no guilt or ambivalence regarding malicious treatment or hatred
• stories are repetitive and lacking in detail and depth
• denial of hope for reconciliation, no acknowledgement of desire for reconciliation
• expresses worry for preferred parent, desire to care for that parent or defensive denial that child is indeed worried about parent