amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/21/abused-uk-children-family-courts-parental-alienation?__twitter_impression=true
An interesting article about parental alienation syndrome. Personally, I think there are some instances where a resident parent turns the child against the other parent without objective reason but there are so many examples of where the mother has been abused and the child picks up on that (because how can you present a positive picture of someone who has abused you?) and also cases where the child has witnessed abuse and is scared of the other parent independently of the resident parent’s influence. I definitely think it’s the ‘go to’ explanation used by violent men where their former partners try to restrict contact.
Those who have worked in the domestic violence sector have seen examples of women being traumatised by their experience of the family court.
I also wish there were more research on adults whose parents went through divorce and separation. My dad was physically and mentally abusive and a narcissist. If you’d asked him, my mum was guilty of parental alienation. The truth is something entirely different. My siblings and I witnessed abuse and we made our own minds up as a result. But my dad would swear blind that he was a victim of a miscarriage of justice. He also denied the physical abuse even though we all saw it.
It’s complex but I’m glad it’s receiving more attention now.
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Parental alienation and family court
27 replies
GCandproud · 23/07/2021 22:12
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