My daughter's heartbreak and Parental Alienation Syndrome

Dr. Richard A. Gardner, introduced the Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) phenomenon in a 1985 published article called “Recent Trends in Divorce and Custody Litigation.” 

According to Gardner, PAS consists of eight primary manifestations of symptoms, which may or may not be present in every situation. They are:

1. The child aligns with the alienating parent in a campaign of denigration and hatred against the alienated (also referred to as the “targeted”) parent, with the child making active contributions.
2. Rationalizations for denigrating the alienated parent are often weak, frivolous or absurd.
3. There seems to be no ambivalence in the child’s feelings toward the target parent; thus, animosity toward the alienated parent is demonstrably severe.
4. The child states that the decisions to reject the alienated parent are the child’s own (referred to as the “Independent Thinker” phenomenon).
5. There is an automatic, reflexive support by the child for the alienating parent.
6. The child expresses a guiltless disregard for the feelings of the alienated parent.
7. The child borrows from various subject matter and jargon of the alienating parent. Thus, the child’s denigration of the targeted parent has a distinct rehearsed quality.
8. The child’s animosity extends to the alienated parent’s extended family and friends.

Although the eight manifestations of PAS are typically triggered during high-conflict child custody battles, PAS can also be precipitated during other divorce disputes including, but not limited to, child support issues, property division issues, remarriage, and financial arrangement issues.

 Copyright 2013 © Dr. Kathleen M. Reay, Inc.

From: http://parentalalienationhelp.org/about-parental-alienation/