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Parental alienation syndrome is a term coined by Richard A. Gardner to describe what he referred to as "a disturbance in which children are obsessively preoccupied with depreciation and/or criticism of a parent." The concept of "parental alienation syndrome" has been extensively criticized by scientists and jurists and has been described as inadmissible in the courtroom based on both science and law.

Definition

Gardner states that parental alienation syndrome can result from alienation that occurs when a parent criticizes the other parent or stepparent directly to a child or in front of the children. It will most likely occur during divorce, custody hearings, upon remarriage of a parent, or most commonly during primary contact with the children. The effect is to produce a disturbance in the child's relationship with the other parent.

Criticisms

The American Psychological Association's 1994 Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family stated that the syndrome lacked any data to support it, and expressed concern about the use of the term. The report also expressed concern that custody evaluators "may accuse of alienating the children from the father and may recommend giving custody to the father in spite of a history of violence."

Gardner's formulation itself has received criticism for being incomplete, if not flatly incorrect, and inappropriately blaming a single parent for a dynamic between their partner and children that turns the child against one parent. A review in the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review stated that parental alientaion syndrome should not be admitted into courts due to a misplaced presentation as a reliable concept, while in reality lacking evidence and proof of causation.

In 1988, Gardner wrote:

Unfortunately, the term parental alienation syndrome is often used to refer to the animosity that a child may harbor against a parent who has actually abused the child, especially over an extended period. The term has been used to apply to the major categories of parental abuse, namely, physical, sexual, and emotional. Such application indicates a misunderstanding of the parental alienation syndrome. The term is applicable only when the parent has not exhibited anything close to the degree of alienating behavior that might warrant the campaign of denigration exhibited by the child.

References

1. ^ "Resolution On Male Violence Against Women American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence And The Family". Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. 1996. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
2. Waldron, KH (1996). "Understanding and Collaboratively Treating Parental Alienation Syndrome". American Journal of Family Law. 10: 121–133. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
3. Wood, CL (1994). "The parental alienation syndrome: a dangerous aura of reliability". Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review. 29: 1367–1415. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
4. Gardner, RA (1998). "Recommendations for Dealing with Parents who Induce a Parental Alienation Syndrome in their Children". Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. 28 (3/4): 1–21.

• Psychology