Parents who are going through a divorce have to determine what should be included in the parenting plan. This governs how the children will be raised and the responsibilities of both parents.
While many parents are able to put their differences aside to raise their children, there are times when one parent might not be able to do that. Instead, they may become so bitter that they try to turn the child against the other parent.
Parental alienation is manipulation
Parental alienation is a pattern of behavior that manipulates a child’s feelings in order to harm their bond with the other parent. They can include behaviors like speaking negatively about the other parent, making the child feel guilty for enjoying time with their other parent, or limiting contact.
Over time, that alienating parent’s behavior may cause the child to begin to echo the criticisms, even if they previously had a good relationship with the targeted parent. These situations can be emotionally harmful for a child because they lead to confusion, long-term trust issues and guilt. In some cases, these children are at greater risk of depression, low self-esteem and strained relationships in the future.
Signs of parental alienation
It’s not always easy to see the signs of parental alienation. Children who were placed in this position may experience intense and unjustified anger toward one parent. They might refuse to communicate, resist visits, or seem anxious when the other parent is mentioned.
The parent who’s being targeted by the alienating parent may feel as if they don’t have any recourse. While these cases can be difficult to prove, it’s critical to get the legal process started as quickly as possible. Once the legal side of things is handled, it’s often necessary to focus on therapy to help rebuild the relationship between the targeted parent and the child.