When parents divorce, life can be challenging for all those involved, particularly the children. While most parents want what is best for their children, some seem unable to resist speaking negatively about the other parent. While this is rarely productive in any way, it can be especially damaging to children. An American psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Gardner, introduced the phrase “parental alienation syndrome” in 1985, defining it as a childhood disorder arising almost exclusively during child custody disputes.
Gardner described children being “programmed” by one parent to reject, fear, dislike, or hate the other parent. Parental alienation can be obvious or more insidious, but the end result is the same – to damage the child’s relationship with the other parent. If one parent believes the other is deliberately waging a parental alienation war against them during the allocation of parental responsibilities, it is important to address it quickly before it can spiral out of control. A Will County, IL parental responsibilities attorney can help recognize and address parental alienation.