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What is Parental Alienation and Parental Alienation Syndrome:
Differences, Behaviors and Symptoms
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Parental Alienation Syndrome was first defined and described by Psychiatrist Richard Gardner, M.D. in his work with divorcing families with minor children in 1985. He began to notice a growing phenomenon where one parent would try to alienate the children from the other parent so that the children would ultimately reject that parent. When this alienation was successful, Dr. Gardner identified a cluster of symptoms that these children would begin to exhibit, which he described as the “Parental Alienation Syndrome”. Since his original work in this area, there has been much further work and research done by Dr. Gardner as well as many other mental health professionals.
The Differences Between PA & PAS:
First, Parental Alienation must be distinguished from Parental Alienation Syndrome. Parental Alienation refers to the behaviors engaged in by the parent, with the possible result being the development of Parental Alienation Syndrome in the child. Parental Alienation refers to the actions of one parent onto the children. Specifically, this refers to one parent denigrating, criticizing and attacking the other parent in front of and ultimately with the children. It represents the one parent’s attempt to remove what is referred to as the “Target Parent” from their children’s lives, and making it appear that it is the child who feels this way. How this is accomplished ranges from the most subtle to the most obvious of strategies. But they all carry the common goal of attempting to eliminate the Target Parent from the child’s life and world.
• Parental Alienation (PA) refers to the behaviors engaged in by the parent.
• Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is the psychological condition that exists within the child who has been a victim of Parental Alienating behaviors.
PA Behaviors To Look For:
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Parental Alienation refers to specific actions by the Alienating Parent. These behaviors are predictable and form an identifiable pattern. The pattern of these behaviors form four Criteria which are listed below.
1. Visitation or access blocking by one parent
2. False allegations of abuse or unfit parenting against the Target Parent
3. Deterioration in the relationship with the child and the Target Parent since marital separation
4. Exaggerated fear reaction on the part of the child at displeasing the Alienating Parent
When these four criteria are present, the stage is set for the development of Parental Alienation Syndrome. play video of this topic
PAS Symptoms in Children
Parental Alienation Syndrome is the result of the child living in the presence of the four criteria listed above for some significant period of time. Parental Alienation Syndrome can be identified by the presence of following manifestations or symptoms in the child.
How many do you recognize?
_ Campaign of Denigration
_ Weak or Frivolous Rationalizations for the Deprecation
_ Lack of Ambivalence
_ “Independent Thinker” Phenomenon
_ Reflexive support of Alienating Parent
_ Absence of guilt over cruelty and exploitation of Alienated Parent
_ Presence of Borrowed Scenarios
_ Spread of Animosity to Extended Family of Alienated Parent
PA vs. PAS
What is Parental Alienation and Parental Alienation Syndrome:
Differences, Behaviors and Symptoms
play video of this topic
Parental Alienation Syndrome was first defined and described by Psychiatrist Richard Gardner, M.D. in his work with divorcing families with minor children in 1985. He began to notice a growing phenomenon where one parent would try to alienate the children from the other parent so that the children would ultimately reject that parent. When this alienation was successful, Dr. Gardner identified a cluster of symptoms that these children would begin to exhibit, which he described as the “Parental Alienation Syndrome”. Since his original work in this area, there has been much further work and research done by Dr. Gardner as well as many other mental health professionals.
The Differences Between PA & PAS:
First, Parental Alienation must be distinguished from Parental Alienation Syndrome. Parental Alienation refers to the behaviors engaged in by the parent, with the possible result being the development of Parental Alienation Syndrome in the child. Parental Alienation refers to the actions of one parent onto the children. Specifically, this refers to one parent denigrating, criticizing and attacking the other parent in front of and ultimately with the children. It represents the one parent’s attempt to remove what is referred to as the “Target Parent” from their children’s lives, and making it appear that it is the child who feels this way. How this is accomplished ranges from the most subtle to the most obvious of strategies. But they all carry the common goal of attempting to eliminate the Target Parent from the child’s life and world.
• Parental Alienation (PA) refers to the behaviors engaged in by the parent.
• Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is the psychological condition that exists within the child who has been a victim of Parental Alienating behaviors.
PA Behaviors To Look For:
play video of this topic
Parental Alienation refers to specific actions by the Alienating Parent. These behaviors are predictable and form an identifiable pattern. The pattern of these behaviors form four Criteria which are listed below.
1. Visitation or access blocking by one parent
2. False allegations of abuse or unfit parenting against the Target Parent
3. Deterioration in the relationship with the child and the Target Parent since marital separation
4. Exaggerated fear reaction on the part of the child at displeasing the Alienating Parent
When these four criteria are present, the stage is set for the development of Parental Alienation Syndrome. play video of this topic
PAS Symptoms in Children
Parental Alienation Syndrome is the result of the child living in the presence of the four criteria listed above for some significant period of time. Parental Alienation Syndrome can be identified by the presence of following manifestations or symptoms in the child.
How many do you recognize?
_ Campaign of Denigration
_ Weak or Frivolous Rationalizations for the Deprecation
_ Lack of Ambivalence
_ “Independent Thinker” Phenomenon
_ Reflexive support of Alienating Parent
_ Absence of guilt over cruelty and exploitation of Alienated Parent
_ Presence of Borrowed Scenarios
_ Spread of Animosity to Extended Family of Alienated Parent