The hidden method of child abuse
This condition arises as a distinctive form of psychological injury to children in a high conflict separation or divorce of their parents.
It occurs when the child becomes aligned with one parent as a result of the unjustified and/or exaggerated denigration of the other parent.
This leads to an impaired relationship with the alienated (target) parent and an absolute loss of parenting as a result of the hostility of the parent producing the alienation.
In most cases of high conflict separation or divorce, there are degrees of alienation.
A noticeable effect is placing the child in a severe loyalty bind; a position wherein the child believes he or she must choose which parent they will “love” more.
To have to choose between parents is itself damaging to the child, and, if the end result is the exclusion of a parent from the child’s life, the injury is irreparable.
In severe cases, the child’s once love-bonded relationship with the target/rejected parent is destroyed.