Parental Alienation Syndrome?

http://www.coeffic.demon.co.uk/pas.htm

I am going through this with my kids and their mother as we speak! Trust me, this crap is real! My kids have been brainwashed so badly by her, that even with counseling I may not be able to reverse the effects.

It's not in the DSM-IV or DSM-IV-TR (text revision). It's basically a disorder that a few doctors got together and named, primarily (in my opinion) to make a name for themselves.

It is not an offically recognized disorder but is often recognized by courts in child custody cases. Generally, the term is used by one parent to attack the other parent as "alienating the child" against him or her. Purposely criticizing or denigrating the spouse in front of the child ... and driving wedges between the child and the other parent are examples.

The APA (American Psychological Association) takes no official position on the existence of this "syndrome".

It lacks serious empirical studies to back up its inclusion as a psychological disorder. In my opinion, it is basically a description of environmental conditons, not a disorder, but people often want to name anything a "disorder" these days.

There are numerous other criticisms of the claim that this is an actual disorder ... some go as far as to call it "junk science" (though I'd classify it more as "pop psychology", which are sometimes one and the same). I've inlcuded a couple of articles about it below.

You'll note in any internet search that the majority of sites that carry information about it are legal (i.e. lawyer's) sites. This isn't by accident as a courtroom is the most likely place you'll see its validity discussed.

Hope this helps,

Nathan

There are numerous negative behavioral patterns within our society that have not been officially catalogued, categorized and labeled. This, however does not mean they don't exist.

Interestingly, when I read the headline of your question, one image came to mind, but when "<nathanm..." responded to your question, he described something totally different from what I was thinking.

When I thought of "Parental Alienation" I thought NOT of one parent alienating the kids from the other, but of parents alienating themselves from the kids.

I suppose it is because we identify with what we know from our own experience, and this was how I grew up. The prevailing attitude was "We are the parents - the authority figures - and you are the kids - the underlings - and never the twain shall meet, on any kind of a level, as fellow human beings."

Anything and everything that made the parents human was hidden from the kids behind closed doors or mentioned in hushed tones we could not hear. I lived with them for almost a quarter of a century, and yet they died as total strangers to me.

I know more about co-workers I have shared office space with for 2 years than I ever knew about either of my parents as individual PEOPLE!

I suspect that if something does officially carry the label of "Parental Alienation Syndrome" it is probably more likely to fit "<nathanm..."s interpretation than mine. However, if I were to try to put a name to the impenetrable wall of remote parental authority that separated me from my parents for two decades or more, I could scarcely think of a more appropriate term.