Parental Alienation should not be confused with Parental Alienation Syndrome. Parental Alienation most commonly refers to the parent’s behaviors, which may result in the development of Parental Alienation Syndrome in the child. The actions of one parent toward the children are referred to as parental alienation.
This refers to one parent disparaging, criticizing, and attacking the other parent in front of, and eventually with, the children. It reflects one parent’s attempt to remove the “Target Parent” from their children’s lives while making it appear that the child feels this way. The methods used to accomplish this range from the most nuanced to the most obvious. They all, however, have the same objective of attempting to exclude the Target Parent from the child’s world and life.
Denigration Campaign
The child’s negative campaign against the targeted parent is referred to here. This campaign consists of the child’s negative and critical remarks about this parent. While these feelings are mostly from the other parent, they are interpreted and expressed through the child.
Weak or frivolous justifications for deprecation
This is the child’s explanation for why they do not want a relationship with the parent. According to the scientific literature on the strength of the bond between a parent and their child, the reasons given by the child are insufficient.
Absence of Ambivalence
This symptom denotes the child’s complete lack of positive feelings toward the targeted parent. This is frequently manifested as the child’s rejection of any positive feelings for the targeted parent. This symptom is more common in children who have been severely alienated.
The phenomenon of “Independent Thinker”
This refers to the child’s unprompted protest that they were not influenced to say what they were saying about the targeted parent. It reflects the child’s denial that they had been coached, usually when they had not been told.
Alienating Parent’s Reflexive Support
This refers to the child’s unwavering support for the alienating or favored parent, as well as their unwavering opposition to any stance held by the targeted parent, particularly in relation to the divorce.
Absence of guilt over Alienated Parent cruelty and exploitation
One of the more severe symptoms, this one refers to the alienated child’s striking lack of empathy for the target parent, as well as the cruelty that this causes.
Availability of Borrowed Scenarios
This refers to the consequences of the child being coached. This symptom reflects the creation of an unreasonably negative image of the targeted parent through distortion and misinformation.
Alienated Parent’s Animosity Spreads to Extended Family
This refers to the child’s alienation from the targeted parent’s own parents – the child’s grandparents – as well as other extended family members and aspects of that parent’s life.
Reference:
What is Parental Alienation and Parental Alienation Syndrome? ( Dr. J Michael Bone, Parental Alienation Consultant )