Legal Definitions - parent-alienation syndrome

Term: parent-alienation syndrome

Parent-alienation syndrome describes a situation where one parent actively engages in behaviors designed to manipulate a child into fearing, disliking, or rejecting the other parent. This involves a pattern of actions intended to damage or "poison" the child's relationship with the alienated parent. While this concept is frequently discussed in family law, particularly in custody disputes, it's important to note that some mental health professionals do not recognize it as a formal psychological syndrome.

Examples:

• Example 1: Constant Negative Commentary
  During a contentious divorce, a mother consistently tells her children that their father is unreliable, doesn't truly care about them, and is only interested in money, despite the father's consistent efforts to maintain contact and provide support. She might say things like, "Your father never wanted to spend time with you, he just had to," or "He's always trying to hurt our family."
  This illustrates parent-alienation syndrome because the mother is actively and repeatedly disparaging the father, attempting to manipulate the children's perception and foster negative feelings towards him.
• Example 2: Undermining Visitation and Communication
  A father frequently "forgets" to inform his child about scheduled video calls from the mother, or he plans exciting activities that conflict with the mother's visitation days, making the child feel guilty or pressured to choose his company over hers. He might also intercept gifts or letters from the mother, preventing them from reaching the child.
  This demonstrates parent-alienation syndrome through actions that subtly but consistently interfere with and sabotage the child's opportunities to connect positively with the other parent, thereby eroding their relationship.
• Example 3: Forcing a Child to Choose Sides
  After a separation, one parent tells their child, "If you really loved me, you wouldn't want to spend time at your other parent's house," or "Your other parent is trying to turn you against me." This creates a scenario where the child feels immense pressure to align with one parent and reject the other to maintain affection or avoid conflict.
  This exemplifies parent-alienation syndrome by directly manipulating the child's emotions and loyalty, coercing them into taking sides and fostering a sense of betrayal or rejection towards the alienated parent.