The emerging ‘parental alienation syndrome’

There are times when families in turmoil — due to the parents’ separation, divorce or annulment — make consultations for assessment to determine if the children have been “brainwashed” or “alienated” by the parent currently living with the children against the other parent or even against the extended family of the other parent.

The term parental alienation syndrome (PAS) was coined by child psychiatrist Richard A. Gardner in his article “Recent Trends in Divorce and Custody Litigation” in 1985 where he said that PAS is “...a disorder that arises primarily in the context of child-custody disputes. Its primary manifestation is the child’s campaign of denigration against the parent, a campaign that has no justification. The disorder results from the combination of indoctrinations by the alienating parent and the child’s own contributions to the vilification of the alienated parent.” It is said that this alleged indoctrination may be conscious or unconscious on the part of the alienating parent.

The difference between parental alienation and PAS is that parental alienation refers to the behavior or symptoms of the parents while PAS refers to the hatred of the child towards the targeted parent.

Gardner gave guidelines of eight prerequisites to be able to make a diagnosis of PAS:

1. A campaign of denigration and hatred against the targeted parent.

2. Weak, absurd or frivolous rationalizations for this deprecation and hatred.

3. Lack of the usual ambivalence about the targeted parent.

4. Strong assertions that the decision to reject the parent is theirs alone (the “independent-thinker phenomenon”).

5. Reflexive support of the favored parent in the conflict.

6. Lack of guilt over the treatment of the alienated parent.

7. Use of borrowed scenarios and phrases from the alienating parent.

8. The denigration not just of the targeted parent but also of that parent’s extended family and friends.

PAS at this point in time is not yet officially listed in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual V. The category in this manual that can be used to refer to PAS is that of parent-child relational problem.

An assessment of PAS is made based on the child’s symptoms. But Gardner advised that any recommendation of change in custody should be based mainly on the symptom level of the alienating parent. 

Gardner said that in mild cases of PAS,  there is parental programming/alienating against the targeted parent with minimal or no disruption of visitation. In moderate cases of PAS, Gardner said there is an increase in the parental programming/alienating leading to greater resistance to visits with the targeted parent. Gardner recommended that primary custody should remain with the programming/alienating parent if the alienating was expected to be stopped, but if not, then the custody should be transferred to the targeted parent. There should also be psychotherapy for the child to stop the alienation and to remedy the distorted relationship with the targeted parent. In severe cases, children will manifest most or all of the eight symptoms, and will refuse  to visit the targeted parent, including threats to run away or even commit suicide if the visitation is forced.

Because of such a scenario, Gardner recommended change of environment for the child from the alienating  parent’s home into a transition home, perhaps with the grandparents or other relatives, before moving to the home of the targeted parent. Psychotherapy is recommended for the child.  Gardner’s recommendations have, however, been criticized by other professionals who feel that joint custody is still the better option with individual therapy for the parents and the child.

The assessment of the severity of parental alienation syndrome of the child against the targeted parent and the severity of parental alienation or symptoms of the alienating parent and the effect on the targeted parent will assist the court in its decision regarding the custody of the children.

(For questions on love, looks and relationships, e-mail this author at nina.halilijao@gmail.com.)