What is Parental Alienation?

Definition

“The British Psychological Society (BPS) defines parental alienation (PA) as a child’s rejection of a parent with whom they have a loving relationship, without a legitimate reason.

It’s a psychological response that can have a significant impact on the child.”

Government Attitude

PA is prevalent in the global north culture and associated with the outcome of a divorce/separation with the majority of primary care being awarded to the woman and the man being financially responsible. Child Maintenance Agency (previously the Child Support Agency) are responsible for the enforcement of child maintenance which arranges payment for children living with parents.

The government and criminal justice system have dismissed PA as a pseudoscience without providing any qualified reasoning and contrary to overwhelming evidence from the psychology profession. In fact, there is a disinformation campaign in progress to undermine the increased exposure that PA has recently received.

Brazil and Mexico have legislation that addresses Parental Alienation.

The Science

Children exposed to parental alienating behaviours may develop a confused sense of self-perception and fail to remember how to trust their perceptions and feelings, resulting in an uncertain identity, lack of self-esteem, and deep insecurity [1] Harman J.J., Matthewson M.L., Baker A.J.L. Losses experienced by children alienated from a parent. Current Opin. Psychol. 2021;43:7–12. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.05.002 , [2] Mullen P.E., Martin J.L., Anderson J.C., Romans S.E., Herbison G.P. The long-term impact of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of children: A community study. Child Abus. Negl. 1996;20:7–21. doi: 10.1016/0145-2134(95)00112-3. .

These difficulties can lead to the inadequate and age-inappropriate development of independence and individuality. 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 [2]. These difficulties can persist even when alienated children reunite with the targeted parent [3] Baker A.J.L. Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties that Bind. WW Norton & Company; New York, NY, USA; 2007. .