The long-term correlates of childhood exposure to parental alienation on adult self-sufficiency and well-being

The degree of conflict between parents during and after separation has been identified as the single best predictor of outcomes for children after divorce (Pruett, Williams, Isabella, & Little, 2003; Schick, 2002). One distinct form of parental conflict that can sometimes emerge under high conflict situations has been termed parental alienation (PA). This refers to the persistent, unwarranted denigration of one parent by the other, in an attempt to alienate the child from the other parent (Gardner, 1998). Parental alienation syndrome (PAS) refers to one possible outcome of experiencing PA, and refers to a condition in which a child has been successfully indoctrinated and controlled by an alienating parent (AP), resulting in unwarranted fear, hatred, and rejection of the targeted parent (TP). The proposed psychological underpinnings for this family dynamic…