Due to increasing knowledge, parental alienation is commonly being described as emotional abuse which may have serious psychological harm to the child. It typically occurs when one of the child's parents has sole parental responsibility after a divorce or separation.
While these professionals are historically skilled at identifying physical child abuse, they are beginning to identify a more insidious form of emotional child abuse called parental alienation. When this form of abuse is correctly and timely identified, custody evaluators can recommend specific strategies for success.
This can lead to an increased vulnerability to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating and feeding disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychosomatic disorders [15]. These difficulties can persist even when alienated children reunite with the targeted parent [16].
Gaslighting is especially common in cases involving parental alienation, but it can be used in plenty of other situations as well.
Narcissistic parental alienation syndrome occurs when a parent with narcissistic traits attempts to maliciously alienate their child from an otherwise loving parent. This is often accomplished by attacking the other parent's character in front of the child.
Parental Alienation Syndrome is common because it is an effective device for gaining custody of a child. Through systematic alienation, one parent may slowly brainwash a child against the other parent. The parent involved in such alienation behavior then may gain the misplaced loyalty of the child.
In most cases, parental alienation backfires, with the child struggling with feelings of loss and resentment towards both parents. Removing the other parent from their life causes the child to feel isolated and neglected, instilling feelings of insecurity.
Parental alienation syndrome is a psychological condition that a child suffers when one parent takes steps toward destroying the other parent's relationship with their child. The alienating parent manipulates the child's point of view about the other parent through deceptive tactics.
Guilt. Most participants felt the Alienating Parent made them feel guilty. They also felt guilty about the ways they treated the Target Parent, even though they knew they weren't to blame. Grieving the loss of the relationship with the Targeted Parent.
The effect of alienation is dramatic on children. Children become overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, and confused. These children often develop an unhealthy sense of entitlement that leads to social alienation and behavior problems.
The four dimensions of alienation identified by Marx are alienation from: (1) the product of labor, (2) the process of labor, (3) others, and (4) self. Class experiences usually fit easily into these categories.
After trauma, survivors can feel disconnected from themselves and others. Alienation is linked with psychological distress, such as PTSD, depression, and dissociation symptoms. We can each take actions to support connection after trauma.
They can also include spurning, terrorising, isolating, corrupting or exploiting, and not responding appropriately to the child's emotional needs. These tactics can foster a false belief that the parent who has been subject to the alienating behaviour is dangerous or unworthy.
Parental alienation is a set of strategies that a parent uses to foster a child's rejection of the other parent. Parental alienation syndrome develops in children who come to hate, fear, and reject the targeted parent as someone unworthy of having a relationship with them.
An obsessive parental alienator is actively working to alienate their child from the other parent. Their purpose is to alienate their child from the other parent and destroy their relationship.
There is often a perception in family law that parental alienation is not recognised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. While the term parental alienation is not specified or defined in the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), it can and has been recognised in the Courts.
Parental alienation does not protect a child's interests—it places them in peril. When a parent's behavior threatens not only your well-being, but also your child's, it is worth doing everything in your power to fight back. If your ex is engaging in such tactics, you should explore every legal option at your disposal.
Can the alienation of children be reversed? As children get older, the alienation can be reversed with proper psychological care. However, it won't work if the alienating parent is not contained.
Alienation from a parent contradicts one of the fundamental principles of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), that children have the right to have a meaningful relationship with both of their parents. This, right, of course, is in the absence of significant risk concerns to a children's safety and wellbeing.
It has been estimated that 95 percent of alienated children reconcile and only 5 percent do not. From clinical experience and anecdotal stories, there are similarities among the cases.