Title: Losses experienced by children alienated from a parent

Publication: Current Opinion in Psychology

Authors: Jennifer J. Harman, Mandy L. Matthewson, Amy J.L. Baker 

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.05.002 

Summary: This article talks about the negative effects on children who are alienated. The behaviors of the alienating parent change the child’s beliefs, perceptions, and memories of the rejected parent, leading to significant losses for the child. These losses include losing their sense of self, normal childhood experiences, connections with extended family, community, and opportunities for healthy development. As a result, alienated children often suffer from ongoing and unrecognized grief in isolation. They not only lose the relationship with one parent but also face distortions in their reality, loss of identity, innocence, and connections to their wider family and community. These losses deprive them of the support and opportunities needed for their well-being. It’s important to understand the harmful effects of parental alienating behaviors to protect future generations of children from this form of maltreatment.

Family Reunion Comment: Parental alienation occurs when a child unjustifiably rejects one parent due to the influence of the other parent. This causes the child to experience significant losses, including their sense of self, normal childhood experiences, connections with extended family, and community. These losses hinder their healthy development and often lead to unrecognized grief. It’s crucial to recognize the harmful effects of parental alienation and protect children from this form of maltreatment.

Title: The use of parental alienation constructs by family justice system professionals: A survey of belief systems and practice implications

Publication: Family Court Review

Authors: Marsha Kline Pruett, Janet R. Johnston, Michael Saini, Matt Sullivan, Peter Salem

Link:  https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12716 

Summary: This study examines the opinions of family law professionals on parent-child contact problems (PCCP) after separation or divorce. The professionals surveyed have direct experience in dealing with these issues. The study finds that practitioners have confidence in their understanding of PCCPs, but they are less clear about differentiating between terms, research evidence, and interventions related to these problems. The findings highlight practitioners’ beliefs about the harm caused by parental alienation, the debate on whether it is a real phenomenon or a legal strategy, the quality of empirical evidence, views on the child’s involvement, and recommended interventions. Practitioners often take moderate positions and struggle with the complexities and contradictions in cases related to parental alienation in family law.

Family Reunion Comment: The most important point to note is that there is a significant debate among family law professionals regarding parent-child contact problems (PCCP) and parental alienation (PA). The study highlights the differing opinions and beliefs among practitioners, including their understanding of PCCPs, the debate about the validity and prevalence of PA, and the challenges they face in addressing these issues in family law practice. This indicates the complexity and ongoing discussions surrounding PCCPs and PA, emphasizing the need for further research and clarity in this field.

Title: The long-term psychological effects of parental alienation during childhood

Publication: Birmingham City University

Authors: Emily Platt, Stacey Bedwell

Link: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/the-long-term-psychological-effects-of-parental-alienation-during 

Summary: Parental alienation, a form of emotional abuse resulting from parental conflict, is not well understood. Little research has been done on the long-term psychological impact of experiencing parental alienation. This study aimed to examine these long-term effects by investigating self-sufficiency, depression, attachment, self-esteem, and anxiety in individuals who experienced parental alienation during childhood. The findings show a significant link between parental alienation and anxiety, supporting the notion of parental alienation as a syndrome. This study lays the groundwork for future research on the lasting effects of this often overlooked childhood experience.

Family Reunion Comment: Parental alienation, a form of emotional abuse that occurs during parental conflict, has been relatively understudied in terms of its long-term psychological effects. However, a recent study shed light on this issue by investigating the relationship between parental alienation and various psychological measures such as self-sufficiency, depression, attachment, self-esteem, and anxiety. The findings revealed a significant association between parental alienation and anxiety, providing support for the notion of parental alienation as a syndrome. This study highlights the need for further research to better understand the enduring impact of parental alienation on children’s well-being

Title: Losses experienced by children alienated from a parent

Publication: Current Opinion in Psychology

Authors: Jennifer J. Harman, Mandy L. Matthewson, Amy J.L. Baker 

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.05.002 

Summary: Parental alienation is a harmful phenomenon where a child unfairly rejects one parent and aligns with the other due to manipulative behaviors. This leads to significant losses for the child, including their sense of self, childhood experiences, family connections, community ties, and vital relationships crucial for healthy development. These losses can cause ongoing and ambiguous grief, leaving the child isolated and distorting their perception of reality. It not only affects the parent-child relationship but also undermines the child’s identity, innocence, and connections to extended family and communities. By recognizing the detrimental effects of parental alienation, we can work towards protecting future generations of children from this form of childhood maltreatment.

Family Reunion Comment: Parental alienation is a harmful phenomenon where a child unjustly rejects one parent and experiences significant losses, including their sense of self, childhood experiences, family connections, and community ties. This isolation and distortion of reality affect not only the parent-child relationship but also the child’s identity and vital relationships. Recognizing these effects is crucial to protecting children from this form of maltreatment.

Title: Empirical research on parental alienation: A descriptive literature review

Publication: Children and Youth Services Review

Authors: T.M. Marques, I. Narciso, L.C. Ferreira

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105572 

Summary: Parental alienation was most commonly associated with divorce and child custody disputes. The review identified several research themes, including the development of assessment measures, patterns of parental alienation, validation of the parental alienation syndrome construct, the impact of parental alienation, its recognition as child abuse, and professional perspectives on the topic.

Family Reunion Comment: This review acknowledges the complexity of parental alienation and emphasizes the importance of considering various factors that influence a child’s negative beliefs and resistance in cases of parent-child contact problem

Title: Abducting Children Abroad: Gender, Power, and Transnational Mobility in Immigrant Family Conflicts

Publication:  Violence Against Women

Authors: Anika Liversage

Link: https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801221999431 

Summary: This article looks at the experiences of immigrant women whose abusive ex-husbands abducted their children. It recognizes a three-part international migration pattern. In Denmark, the husbands first exert oppressive control over their spouses. Second, the wives challenge their husbands and file for divorce with the help of the Scandinavian state. Finally, the husbands make an effort to regain power by kidnapping the kids and taking them to the Middle East. They hope to use blackmail to force the mothers to return to Denmark and accept male dominance once more. Contrary to the stereotype of immigrant women as helpless victims, some of the spouses actually manage to “re-abduct” their children back to Denmark. In handling the difficult situation, these ladies show resiliency and agency.

Family Reunion Comment: One important thing to note about this article is that it uncovers how abusive ex-husbands use control and child abduction to maintain power over immigrant women. However, it also shows that some women are resilient and cleverly navigate the situation to protect themselves and their children.