Parental Alienation

Parental alienation, also known as hostile aggressive parenting, is common in high conflict marriages, separation or divorce. It can be defined as a set of behaviors that can damage a child’s mental and emotional well-being. It can hinder the relationship between the child and either parent.

When experiencing problems in one’s marriage, or when going through a separation or divorce, the well-being of the child should always be a priority for both parties. The types of behavior involved in parental alienation can cause a child to feel manipulated into believing that one of their parents is the cause of the problem or the enemy. This bullying of the child, whether verbal or non-verbal, teaches him or her that the other parent should be disrespected and avoided. Parental alienation is a form of child abuse, whether the parent intends it or not. In attempting to hurt the other parent, the child is the one being punished.

There are three types of parental alienation: naïve alienation, active alienation, and obsessed alienation. Naïve alienation is when both parents mean well and eventually encourage the relationship between their child and the other parent. Active alienation is when one parent verbally attacks the other in front of the child, but later realizes this was wrong and usually encourages the child’s relationship with the other parent. Finally, obsessed alienation is defined by one parent’s goal to have the child completely on their side and destroy the relationship he or she has with the other parent.

If you are experiencing a situation like this, please contact an attorney for help. Rauseolaw is happy to hear your story and help you decide which steps to take next. Call now for a free consultation.