What is Parental Alienation?
Parental alienation of children is a form of child abuse, and it is recognized as such by psychologists who have experience and expertise with parental alienation. The phenomenon of parental alienation conforms to the definition of Child Abuse as proffered by 2017 Practice Guidelines of The American Professional Society on Abuse of Children (APSAC).
Parental alienation is a mental condition in which a child, usually one whose parents are engaged in a high-conflict separation or divorce, allies strongly with one parent (the preferred or favored parent) and rejects a relationship with the other parent (the targeted or alienated parent) without legitimate justification (Lorandos & Bernet, 2020).
Although the phenomenon that we know as parental alienation (PA) had been described in the mental health and legal literature for many years, it was given its name—parental alienation syndrome—by Richard Gardner in 1985. As time went on, most writers abandoned the use of the word syndrome and simply referred to this mental condition as parental alienation. (Bernet & Greenhill, 2022)
What are the 10 Fallacies of Parental Alienation?
There are several myths or fallacies about parental alienation that may derail appropriate decisions in custody cases (as explained by a leading psychologist working in the field of parental alienation, Dr. Richard A. Warshak (2015). Read the full list here.
What is the Baker Model for Identifying Parental Alienation (Formerly Called the Five Factor Model)?
Formerly called the Five Factor Model, the Baker Model for Identifying Parental Alienation was created to determine five factors of alienation:
Factor 1: A rejection of the targeted parent by the child(ren)
Factor 2: Previous positive relationship between the child(ren) and the targeted parent
Factor 3: The absence of neglect or abuse by the targeted parent
Factor 4: 17 strategies of alienation by the alienating parent
Factor 5: 8 symptoms of alienating behaviors by the child(ren)
Read more and download a copy of the Baker Model for Identifying Parental Alienation worksheet here.
What are the 17 Strategies of an Alienating Parent?
There are a variety of strategies undertaken by an alienating parent to interfere with the relationship between the children and the targeted parent. All the strategies shown by research to be prevalent in the alienation process do not have to be present for alienation to occur. Read the full list here.
What are the 8 Symptoms of Parental Alienation in Children?
Children exhibit behaviors towards the targeted parent when they have been alienated against them. Read the full list here.