Parental Alienation

Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), as a defined concept, is relatively new and still unresolved. The concept was only recently given its name by Richard Gardner in 1985 when he used it to describe behaviors of a child who is exposed to parental alienation. Healthline, 2019. He defined PAS as: "a disorder that arises primarily in the context of child custody disputes. Its primary manifestation is the child's campaign of denigration against the parent, a campaign that has no justification. The disorder results from the combination of indoctrinations by the alienating parent and the child's own contributions to the vilification of the alienated parent." He went on to describe the primary symptoms as:

1. The child is consumed with hostility and fear of the alienated parent and deny any positive past or experiences
2. The criticisms are based upon "weak, frivolous, or absurd rationalizations"
3. The child's feeling about the alienating parent demonstrate steadfast support and unconditional trust without reservations
4. The child believes that their conclusions are theirs without the influence from the alienating parent
5. The child has a reflexive level of support for the alienating parent during parental conflict
6. Absence of Guilt Over the treatment of the alienated parent
7. Presence of borrowed scenarios, such as situations that happened before the child's memory or the use of adult language to describe certain situations
8. The child's animosity is often spread to the alienated parents entire extended family

Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS): Sixteen Years Later, Richard A. Gardner, M.D.

Despite Gardner's work, however, other experts in the field have not been as quick to validate this diagnosis. Notably, it is NOT recognized as a mental health condition by the:

• American Psychological Association
• American Medical Association
• World Health Organization
• American Bar Association

This is problematic for litigation because legal experts rely heavily upon the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (currently DSM-5) when evaluating cases and Parental Alienation Syndrome is notably not included in the list of mental health conditions that are recognized.

That said, the DSM-5 does include: "Child affected by parental relationship distress." Further, it defines "child psychological abuse" to include: "non-accidental verbal or symbolic acts by a child's parent or caregiver that result, or have reasonable potential to result, in significant psychological harm to the child."

Regardless of classification, there should be no doubt parental alienation exists, it harms a parent-child relationship and has mental health effects for those involved.