What Is Parental Alienation Syndrome?

 Posted on July 21,2015 in Child Custody

Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is a recognized disorder that affects nearly all child custody cases at one time or another, and to one extent or another. It is normally defined as a series of actions, or inactions, which are designed to poison the relationship between the children and one of the parents. In many cases, the mother launches a campaign to discredit the father in the eyes of the children. PAS has been called “maternal brainwashing” by some, and that label is entirely false. More than likely, the high incidence of maternal-child PAS is not a function of the mother’s animus, but a function of the high rate of maternal custody in these situations. Moreover, PAS is not “brainwashing.” Many times, the parent’s behavior may be indirect and perhaps even unintentional, at least on some level. Some Signs Parental Alienation Syndrome is typically like bricks in a wall. Taken individually, they may be largely harmless. However, when put together, they can build a nearly impenetrable wall between a non-custodial parent (NCP) and their children. Some common examples include the following situations: