Parental Alienation Custody Battle With A Narcissist
Parental alienation and parental alienation disorder are two terms that are often used interchangeably in family law discussions.
However, they are distinct concepts that have different implications for parents and children in high-conflict custody battles.
What Is Parental Alienation?
Parental alienation is a term that refers to the manipulation of a child by one parent to turn them against the other parent for no valid reason.
This manipulation can take many forms, such as badmouthing the other parent, limiting contact, or withholding affection.
The goal of alienating parents is to create a rift between the alienated child and the targeted parent, often resulting in the child refusing to see or speak to the targeted parent.
Make no mistake, protecting your child from abuse of the other parent IS NOT alienation.
History Of Parental Alienation
The concept of parental alienation has been around for decades, but it wasn't until the 1980s that it gained widespread attention in the legal community.
At that time, some experts began to recognize that parental alienation was a form of emotional child abuse that could have long-lasting effects on children.
Today, parental alienation is recognized as a serious problem in many jurisdictions.
Some family court may order evaluations or counseling to address the issue, and parents may face legal consequences if they are found to be engaging in parental alienation.
Abuse And Parental Alienation
To be clear, once again, protecting a child from abuse IS NOT parental alienation.
Unfortunately, an abuser can falsely claim severe parental alienation against the victim.
This is wrong and needs to be diffused by learning how to protect yourself against false allegations of parental alienation.
Some use the term abuse by proxy in this situation.
However, to be successful, you must be clear on what term your court and jurisdiction use.
Judge Anthony recommends getting clear on your local laws and discussing these matters with a qualified attorney.
What Is Parental Alienation Syndrome?
Parental alienation syndrome (PAS) is a term coined by psychiatrist Richard Gardner in the 1980s to describe a specific set of symptoms that he believed were caused by parental alienation.
According to Gardner, children who were subjected to parental alienation would develop a set of behaviors that included a campaign of denigration against the targeted parent, weak or frivolous rationalizations for the campaign of denigration, and a lack of ambivalence about the targeted parent.
While PAS was initially embraced by some in the legal communities and by mental health professionals, it has since been widely discredited.
Critics argue that PAS is not a valid diagnosis and that it is often used to justify the removal of children from one parent's care without proper evidence of abuse or neglect.
Current State of the Law On Parental Alienation And Parental Alienation Syndrome
The legal landscape around parental alienation and PAS varies depending on the jurisdiction. Some states have specific laws that address parental alienation, while others rely on existing child custody laws to address the issue.
In general, courts are wary of parental alienation and may take steps to address the problem if it is brought to their attention.
However, the burden of proof is often on the targeted parent to demonstrate that parental alienation is occurring, which can be difficult to do.
If you no idea what to do in your current situation, here’s How To Prove Parental Alienation to a Judge.
What to Do if You're A Victim Of Parental Alienation
If you believe that your ex-spouse is engaging in parental alienation, there are several steps you can take to address the problem. These include:
Completely remove your focus from the other party. It's not about the other party. It's about mending the relationship between you and your child.
Try to stay as involved as possible in your child's life outside of the custody schedule. (Doctor's appointments, school activities, school, etc.)
Find out the reason the other side believes about you that causes them to attempt to alienate you.
Take a very serious personal inventory of that reason to determine if there's validity to it.
Documenting any instances of alienation, such as text messages, emails, or voicemails.
Filing a motion with the court to modify custody or visitation arrangements.
Speaking with an attorney to discuss your legal options.
What to Do if You're Being Falsely Accused of Alienation
If you are accused of engaging in parental alienation, it is important to take the accusations seriously and to respond in a thoughtful, measured way. Some steps you can take include:
If you're keeping the child from the other parent in an effort to protect the child, gather evidence to prove the reason for your protection (abuse, drug and/or alcohol abuse, etc.)
If you're not keeping the child from the other parent, gather evidence to disprove the accusations, such as emails or text messages that demonstrate your efforts to encourage your child's relationship with the other parent.
If there's no abuse being in the case against you or the child from the rejected parent, but the child does not want to be with the other parent, consider recommending therapy for the child, family therapy for the child and the other parent, or reunification therapy if needed. This is only if there's not abuse present.
Speak with an attorney to discuss your legal options, including the possibility of filing a defamation lawsuit if the accusations are particularly damaging.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is parental alienation and how does it manifest in custody battles?
Parental alienation refers to the manipulation of a child by one parent to turn them against the other parent without valid reason.
This manipulation can include badmouthing, limiting contact, or withholding affection to create a rift between the child and the targeted parent.
An alienated parent is recognized as a serious problem and can lead to legal consequences.
However, protecting a child from the abuse of the other parent is not considered alienation.
2. What is the difference between parental alienation and parental alienation syndrome (PAS)?
Parental alienation syndrome (PAS) was a term coined to describe behaviors in children believed to be caused by parental alienation, such as denigration of the targeted parent.
However, PAS has been widely discredited and is not a valid diagnosis.
While parental alienation is acknowledged as a significant issue in many jurisdictions, PAS is viewed skeptically due to its potential misuse in a child custody case.
3. What steps can be taken if you are a victim of parental alienation or falsely accused of it?
If you're a victim of parental alienation, it's important to stay involved in your child's life, document instances of alienation, and possibly seek legal action to modify custody.
If falsely accused of alienation, gather evidence to disprove the accusations, consider therapy options if appropriate, and seek legal counsel to explore your options, including defamation lawsuits if necessary
Conclusion
Parental alienation and parental alienation syndrome are two terms that are often used interchangeably but have distinct meanings.
While parental alienation is a recognized problem that can have serious consequences for children and parents, PAS is a controversial concept that has been widely discredited.
If you are involved in a high-conflict custody battle and believe that parental alienation is occurring, it is important to take steps to address the problem and protect your relationship with your child.
This is especially true if you are dealing with a narcissist in court.
If you have continued issues with parental alienation, whether it's happening to you or you're being wrongfully accused of it, consider hiring Judge Anthony as a consultant in your case. Click here for more information on how to do that.
