What is Parental Alienation Syndrome?
Saturday October 25, 2008
Parental Alienation Syndrome is the deliberate attempt by one parent to distance his/her children from the other parent. The motivation is to destroy the parental bond between his/her children with the other parent. The alienation process develops over time and some of the symptoms of the syndrome include some or all of the following:
- A parent will speak badly of or criticize the other parent directly to the child or children. Negative statements about the other parent may be direct or indirect. For instance, the parent may say, “We can’t afford a new dress for the school dance because your father/mother decided to spend the money on vacation with their new friend.” A more direct comment would be, “your father/mother left because he/she didn’t care enough about you to try and make the marriage work.” Either statement is meant to cause the child to feel anger toward the other parent. It is an attempt to use the child to get back at the other parent for causing emotional pain.
- A parent will speak badly of the other parent within the hearing range of the child or children. There are parents who say they would never say anything negative to their child or children about the other parent. They don’t seem to have any problem saying negative things to other people though and if their child or children happen to be within hearing distance the better. These people hold themselves up as a “good person.” They want to instill anger in their children toward the other parent without looking bad. It’s easy to say they had no idea the child was listening so they don’t have to take responsibility for their actions. I like to say they are being very aggressive in a passive way.
- A parent will make the child privy to the details of the divorce and the ongoing conflict between the parents. They discuss financial problems brought on by the divorce. Make the child aware of legal issues that are ongoing and make it appear that if it weren’t for dad or mom their life would be...read more about parental alienation syndrome
An Additional thing your readers should know is that groups exist to take people to court to take their children from them. Such groups reject the credibility and existence of PAS. Among them is Justice for Children, Houston, Texas. This group is also sexist as evidenced by the interview conducted in the May 2, 2007 Houston Chronicle of attorney Alene Levy, who was about to go to work for them on loan from Haynes and Boone, Llp.
Justice for Children took my daughter on a false allegation after I had cared for her for 5 1/2 years. Returning her to her mother was disatrous. She later dropped out of high school and made a baby. While her mother got the free ‘help’ from Justice for Children, she was out committing three felonies.