Parental alienation is an emotionally charged issue that affects countless families and is a common issue during divorce actions. It occurs when one parent manipulates a child into expressing unjustified fear, hostility, or detachment from the other parent.
At the center of parental alienation lies the emotional well-being of the children involved. The subject child is typically torn between two parents which can lead to a feeling of confusion and guilt. Children who are victims of parental alienation often experience a range of emotions, including anger, sadness, and specifically struggle with feelings of loyalty toward both parents, feeling pressured to choose sides in a conflict they were thrown in to.
Furthermore, the alienated parent-child relationship may suffer irreversible damage, impacting the child's ability to develop a secure attachment and hindering their emotional development. Even if reconciliation occurs later in life, the scars left by parental alienation may linger, influencing future interactions and perceptions of family dynamics. Parental alienation doesn't just impact the parent-child relationship, but it can impact the entire family as a whole. Siblings may also find themselves caught in the crossfire, forced to navigate complex loyalties and strained relationships.