| Richard Gardner first coined the term "Parental | | | | Alienating parents can use many different tactics to |
| Alienation Syndrome" in 1985, but the basic concept | | | | damage their child's view of his or her mother or |
| had been recognized and given other names by | | | | father. They may ignore custody arrangements and |
| many psychologists and professionals who work with | | | | encourage the child to do the same. They may |
| divorcing families. PAS is an all too common problem | | | | similarly dismiss rules or guidelines set down by the |
| when couples are unhappy, in the process of | | | | alienated parent. They may threaten the child with |
| divorcing, during a remarriage and during other times | | | | some kind of consequence for contacting or spending |
| of family upheaval. | | | | time with their mother or father. They may even |
| PAS occurs when one parent consistently insults, | | | | encourage the child to insult, aggravate or file false |
| belittles and denigrates the other parent in front of | | | | charges against the alienated parent. |
| the couple's children. It can also mean one parent | | | | PAS is not officially recognized as a mental disorder |
| treating an ex-spouse's new partner or spouse in the | | | | by the American Psychological Association. But it has |
| same way. The parent who is doing the | | | | been taken into account by judges during child |
| rumor-spreading and insulting is known as the | | | | custody disputes. Other judges, however, have |
| alienating parent. The parent who is receiving this | | | | declined to consider it, citing a lack of empirical |
| unfair and hurtful treatment is known as the alienated | | | | evidence. There is also a concern that claims of PAS |
| parent. | | | | can be misused by abusive parents whose exes are |
| The goal of the alienating parent is to destroy their | | | | right to keep their children away from them. This |
| child's relationship with the alienated parent. Over | | | | creates a complicated psychological and legal |
| time, the child's view of the alienated parent can be | | | | controversy. Some people do use their children |
| severely affected. They may disrespect or disregard | | | | against their spouses or exes, and this should not be |
| their mother or father, and may eventually come to | | | | overlooked during divorce proceedings. However, |
| loathe them and want them out of the child's life | | | | judges should be careful not to be taken in by false |
| completely. PAS is basically using one's child as a | | | | claims of abuse. |
| weapon to hurt one's current or former partner. It is | | | | For more information about child custody disputes |
| form of child abuse, and can have long-lasting | | | | and family law, contact Boca Raton divorce |
| psychological effects on both the child and the | | | | attorneys Eric Klein and associates. |
| person he or she has been alienated from. | | | | |