What is Parental Alienation?

Parental Alienation is a term that generally describes any behavior by a parent, whether conscious or unconscious, that interferes with the relationship between a child and the other parent. There are varying degrees of parental alienation that are described in various peer-reviewed texts that demonstrate mild through severe behaviors that manifest in the child against one of their parents and where the noted behaviors appear to be encouraged or provoked by the other parent. A common set of factors that seem to arise frequently in the context of parental alienation appears to be divorce, child custody, and child support cases where conflict becomes more intense between the parents.

The Richmond County Bar Association Journal, in February 2005, published an article that carries the title The Four Myths of Parental Alienation. ¹ In the article the first myth is "that once the divorce and child custody proceedings end, the alienating actions will end too. Secondly, "that it is purely, 'father's issue.'" Thirdly that "the place to deal with parental alienation is in the therapist's office, not the courtroom." Finally the last myth is "that alienation isn't even a legitimate issue because it isn't listed in the DSM -- the psychology profession's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual." Each of the myths listed are thoroughly examined and discussed by the author.

Several key websites have come out in support of the parental alienation awareness, varying from adults claiming they were alienated against a parent, parents stating they are currently being alienated by the other parent in court proceedings, professionals claiming to provide treatment and resources. A popular site of an adult that experienced parental alienation as a child is "Parental Alienation Hurts" ² which details the personal story of a survivor of alienation and how it has affected her adult years. An author, Mike Jeffries ³, details the past and current aspects of parental alienation between himself and one of his children with the technical assistance of a mental health professional in the popular book A Family's Heartbreak. Dr. Amy Baker ⁴ maintains several resources for those that are experiencing parental alienation.

It is hard to say that everyone supports the concept of parental alienation, even the California State Legislature has introduced a bill under AB 612 ⁵ (Assembly Member Beall 2009) that aims to exclude in part "...nonscientific theories, including, but not limited to, alienation theories that assume that a child's report of physical or sexual abuse by one parent is influenced or fabricated by the other parent, are not consistent with generally accepted clinical, forensic, scientific, diagnostic, or medical standards. The court may not reply upon an unproven, unscientific theory and the court may not accept into evidence any finding provided by an expert witness or court appointed professional who has relied on an unproven, nonscientific theory that is a basis for that finding." The bill has intent expressed by several groups claiming that parental alienation is used as a tool to deprive mothers of custody of their children and that the bill will limit or impede the use of the term parental alienation against a custodial mother. It is unsure if such a bill will ever pass the California legislature.

Regardless of the side of the discussion that parents, special interests groups, professionals, and decision-makers are on it would be hard to say there isn't some problem that exists in the context of high-conflict and even moderate-conflict divorce and child custody cases where children are concerned. Healthy cooperative parents typically raise healthier children and where there are unhealthy patterns of conduct and dysfunction that arises in acrimonious divorce proceedings it only makes sense that there will be an impact on the children. As the debate grows and the details are ironed out, hopefully children will again become the concern of our various government policies that affect the raising of the next generation.

<sub>1. The Four Myths of Parental Alienation: Richmond County Bar Association Journal: February 2005
2. Parental Alienation Hurts: http://www.parentalalienationhurts.com
3. A Family's Heartbreak: Mike Jeffries: http://www.afamilysheartbreak.com
4. Dr. Amy Baker: http://www.amyjlbaker.com/
5. Assembly Bill 612, introduced April 2009.</sub>