Parental alienation is tragically born from custody-related conflicts between warring parents refusing to negotiate. However, in “winner-take-all” battles, the “winner” rarely takes “all.”
In spite of evidence to the contrary, the existence of parental alienation lacked much-needed confirmation by a prominent organization. However, the waning months of 2016 saw the group finally verifying what many individuals and entire countries already knew.
Long-Awaited Recognition Of Parental Alienation
After years of taking no official position on the issue, the American Psychological Association (APA) confirmed parental alienation as a prevalent phenomenon equal to child abuse.
According to the APA’s CEO Dr. Cynthia D. Belar, certain events that occurred since their 2008 non-decision determined the organization’s new policy direction. She also promised to seek the best solutions to address the damage that this psychological phenomenon does to parent-child relationships.
Parental alienation starts when one parent brainwashes a child or children against the other. While it lacks the visible scars and bruises from other types of abuse, the damage is equally severe to children and the alienated parent. The resulting hostility and unwarranted feelings of estrangement impact the well-being of children.
Much-Needed Consistency In Moving Forward
The APA’s decision finally coincides with the message sent by their former president. Dr. Paul Fink already claimed the existence of parental alienation as the cause of great harm. Brazil and Mexico have deemed it a criminal act. The United States Department of Justice has referred to is as a type of domestic violence.
Legal professionals are also on board by not only acknowledging the damage done by parental alienation, but also the inadequacy of current campaigns and parenting laws to address this serious issue.
