https://www.omeka.lawrencecatania.com/items/show/4232
title: AI Overview Parental alienation (PA) is a form of psychological abuse where one parent manipulates a child into unjustifiably rejecting or fearing the other parent . It is psychologically "devious" because the tactics are designed to exploit a child's trust and developmental vulnerability, creating a false reality that serves the alienating parent's emotional agenda.
description: AI Overview Parental alienation (PA) is a form of psychological abuse where one parent manipulates a child into unjustifiably rejecting or fearing the other parent . It is psychologically "devious" because the tactics are designed to exploit a child's trust and developmental vulnerability, creating a false reality that serves the alienating parent's emotional agenda. This differs from legitimate estrangement, where a child rejects an abusive parent for valid reasons. In PA, the child's animosity is disproportionate to any issues with the targeted parent, often rooted in the alienating parent's personal conflicts rather than the child's actual experience. Devious Tactics of Manipulation Alienating parents use various coercive and manipulative tactics to turn the child against the other parent. These include: Creating a false narrative: The alienating parent fabricates or exaggerates past incidents to portray the other parent as dangerous, neglectful, or unworthy of the child's love. The child may be unable to counter these lies. Limiting contact: This can be done overtly by defying court orders or subtly by creating logistical barriers. The alienating parent might intercept gifts, block communication, or fill the child's schedule with activities to obstruct parenting time. Enforcing a loyalty conflict: The alienating parent pressures the child to choose sides, explicitly or implicitly communicating, "If you love me, you wouldn't want to visit your father". This traps the child, forcing them to reject a parent to maintain the bond with the alienator. Bad-mouthing and denigration: The alienating parent constantly makes disparaging comments about the other parent, causing the child to internalize this hatred. This can include using adult legalistic terms that the child does not fully understand. Using guilt and fear: The child is made to feel guilty for showing any affection toward the targeted parent. Tactics can escalate to threats of self-harm or abandonment if the c…