What are Signs of Parental Alienation?
Divorce is growing worldwide. However, this affects the couple as well as the children and their families.
With a divorce, the couple ends up with more questions about the child’s future. On the other side, the case could turn worse if the child is facing parental alienation.
So, what are the signs of parental alienation?
In this article, you will get to know everything about the signs of parental alienation. Let’s figure it out!
What is Parental Alienation?
When one parent disgraces the other while both have child custody, it is called Parental alienation.
For example, a father says to a child that their mother doesn’t want to see or love them. Another common example is mother tells their child that their father is busy with the new family.
Additionally, the blaming may start mild, but they eventually turn very serious. No matter how close the alienated parent and child are, the child will begin getting distorted perceptions.
When a child continuously hears bad about the alienated parent, they will start believing that even if the statements aren’t true.
For instance, a child hearing their father doesn’t want to see them regularly. At one time, they will avoid talking to the father.
An alienator is a bad-mouthing parent. On the other side, alienated is a parent who’s being criticized.
Types of Parental Alienation
There are treatments for parental alienation based on the type. However, there are different levels of parental alienation.
- Mild
The mild stage is when a childavoids visiting the alienated parent. However, they have a great time while they are alone.
- Moderate
The moderate stage is when a child strongly disagrees with visiting the alienated parent. However, the child also behaves the same when they are left alone with the parent.
- Severe
In the severe stage, the child doesn’t disagree to meet the alienated parent. However, they tend to hide or run away to resist the meet.
8 Signs of Parental Alienation
Based on the types of parental alienation, the signs also vary. However, there are 8 common signs of parental alienation, which are:
- Defame a parent
- Weak justifications
- Less ambivalence
- Phenomenon of “independent thinker.”
- No guilt
- No support
- Borrowed scenarios and phrases
- Extended family rejections
Let’s check them out!
Defame a parent
In this phase, the child will have changing feelings for the alienated parent overnight. Even though the child loved the parent, they will start defaming the alienated parent very quickly.
Weak justifications
When a child is avoiding their parents, in most cases, they can’t justify their reasons in front of the alienated parent.
However, while they provide their justifications, they are either untrue or don’t properly justify the situation.
Additionally, some even provide very weak justifications- e.g., the alienated parent’s looks or the way they prepare the food.
Less ambivalence
While a child is going through parental alienation, they wouldn’t find any good qualities of the alienated parent.
In such cases, the child thinks that the alienator can never do anything wrong. However, the child’s feelings for the alienated parent are very criticizing and negative.
Phenomenon of “independent thinker.”
An alienator constantly manipulates the child to fear or hate the other parent. However, the child admits that the reasons for not liking the alienated parentare their own. Additionally, they always disagreewith any comments that the alienated parent suggests.
No guilt
Children with parental alienations behave very harshly with alienated parents. Additionally, they tend to act very cold, disrespectful, and ungrateful to the alienated one.
On the other hand, they are never impressed with anything they receive from the alienated parent. Sometimes, they even feel that it’s another way to target them.
No support
Even if the alienated parent supports the child, the child will provide no support for them. in case of conflicts or disagreements, the child won’t even care to listen and support the alienator. This is a clear sign that the child is being partial towards the parents.
Borrowed scenarios and phrases
The child will come across situations which they don’t understand. Such cases are mostly taken from the alienator, which is borrowed scenarios and phrases.
Additionally, sometimes, you will find that the child mentions situations that don’t have proper support.
Extended family rejections
When a child is facing parental alienation, they also start hating the alienated parent’s extended family.
They might not have any issues; rather, everyone loves the child, but the child’s feelings still change over time.
Conclusion
No parent wants to lose their children. However, parental alienation is growing over the world for parents as well as children.
Therefore, it would be best to keep patience and handle the situations calmly when you get the signs.
Additionally, it wouldn’t help you be rude to your ex-partner as they would have more chances to tell your child.
So, take the help of a lawyer if you think that you are facing parental alienation and you can’t handle everything by yourself.