ALIENATION OR ESTRANGEMENT?
Parental Alienation is a term I hear a lot these days in the family law setting. What is it? Is it real?
Parental Alienation occurs when one parent engages in specific behaviors which encourage a child to reject the other parent without justification. These behaviors are referred to as “alienating behaviors.” The parent who engages in the alienating behaviors is the “alienating parent,” or “alienator.” The other parent is the “alienated parent,” or “target parent.” Successfully alienating a child from a parent may result in the child partially rejecting the target parent, or completely rejecting the target parent.
Cases of parental alienation are not the only times in which a child might reject a parent, though. A child may become estranged, either partially or totally, from a parent. Estrangement occurs when a child rejects a parent with a legitimate justification for doing so. In these cases, the end result is the same (rejection of a parent), but the cause is different.
Parental Alienation absolutely occurs, as does estrangement. Distinguishing between the two is critical and requires a very careful examination of not only what is currently happening in the parent-child relationship, but also the history of the family unit.
If you think alienation or estrangement is an issue in your parenting matter, and would like competent advice on how to move forward, contact MEM Law today. (513) 745-9095