Are Alienators Worse than Other Child Abusers?

Parental alienation is a pressing issue that quietly harms countless families and children.

This psychological tactic, where one parent manipulates a child into rejecting the other parent, can have severe effects that are often overlooked in child welfare discussions.

In this article, we will explore the harsh realities of parental alienation, its emotional toll, and the urgent need for accountability among those who perpetrate it.

If you're an alienated parent and need help with your situation then please join PAPA today.

At PAPA we have several free to use support spaces, as well as additional resources available to our Plus members, such as courses, PAPA AI and 1-2-1 help.

Understanding Parental Alienation

Parental alienation happens when one parent actively seeks to damage the child's relationship with the other parent.

Strategies can include negative comments, withholding communication, or portraying the other parent as dangerous or unworthy.

A study published in the Journal of Child Custody found that approximately 15% of children from divorced families experience some form of parental alienation.

The subtlety of parental alienation means it can go unnoticed and unresolved for significant periods.

It often complicates custody battles and high-conflict divorces, leading to confusion for both the child and the targeted parent.

The emotional toll can be staggering, leaving deep scars that may persist throughout a child's life.

How Parental Alienation is a Form of Emotional and Psychological Abuse

Parental alienation is emotional and psychological abuse because it attacks a child's sense of security and identity.

Children subjected to this manipulation may experience a range of emotions, including confusion, anger, and guilt.

For instance, a child may feel torn between wanting to love both parents but instead is pressured to choose sides, often blaming the targeted parent for their struggles.

Unlike physical abuse with visible marks, emotional abuse is often more subtle.

However, its impact can be long-lasting.

Victims of parental alienation may deal with trust issues, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem as they grow older.

A study indicated that children who experienced parental alienation exhibited a 42% higher rate of mental health challenges compared to their peers.

Over time, the forced choice between parents can lead to feelings of isolation and emotional withdrawal.

This damage can hinder healthy relationships in adulthood, affecting romantic partnerships, friendships, and their own parenting styles.

The Disturbing Parallels Between Alienating Parents and Abusers

Though parental alienation and paedophilia differ in motivations, they share disturbing similarities regarding their impact on children.

Both forms of abuse involve a betrayal of trust and distortion of a child's reality.

In paedophilia, the abuser controls and exploits the victim using emotional tactics of dependency and fear.

Similarly, an alienating parent twists their child's feelings, manipulating their love and loyalty to maintain control.

Many psychologists have confirmed that psychological abuse can be just as harmful as physical abuse.

While society recognises paedophilia as a severe crime prompting legal action, parental alienation often goes unnoticed, hidden behind complex family dynamics.

Victims may never fully understand the manipulation they endured, making it challenging for society to view parental alienation as a harmful act equivalent to more visible forms of abuse.

It's often considered that alienators are the worst type of child abusers, as they are abusing their own children.

The Hidden Costs of Psychological and Emotional Abuse

The severe ramifications of emotional abuse are often underestimated in contrast to physical abuse.

Emotional scars are tougher to detect but are equally damaging.

The repercussions of parental alienation can include:

• Mental Health Issues: Children exposed to parental alienation may experience higher anxiety, depression, and cases of PTSD. A survey indicated that nearly 70% of children affected reported feeling anxious and depressed.

  
  

• Relationship Difficulties: Those who endure parental alienation often struggle with forming and maintaining solid relationships as adults. They may develop fears of abandonment or betrayal, making intimacy challenging.

  
  

• Identity Confusion: Affected children might internalise the alienating parent's narrative, leading to confusion about their beliefs, values, and loyalties.

  
  

The fallout extends beyond the child, affecting family members and even friends.

The strain can create long-lasting rifts within families, often disrupting relationships for years to come.

Why Holding Perpetrators Accountable is Essential

Given the significant impact of parental alienation on children, advocating for consequences for those who engage in this behaviour is crucial.

Holding perpetrators accountable can facilitate healing for families and protect children from emotional harm.

Here are a few compelling reasons for accountability:

1. Deterrence: Establishing legal consequences for alienating behaviours can deter parents from using manipulation tactics in conflicts. When the risks are evident, parents may prioritize their children's well-being over personal grudges.

   
   

2. Education: Recognising parental alienation legally can raise awareness regarding its harmful effects. By educating parents about these long-term impacts, we can promote healthier co-parenting strategies grounded in mutual respect.

   
   

3. Support for Victims: Acknowledging parental alienation as a form of abuse can open doors for support and resources for affected children and targeted parents. Access to counselling and legal support can create safer environments for all involved.

   
   

4. Rebuilding Relationships: Consequences may be part of a therapeutic process for families. Engaging in co-parenting counselling can help lay the groundwork for repairing damaged relationships.

   
   

5. Legal Recognition: Advocating for parental alienation to be recognised in family law ensures that courts consider its emotional impact on children during custody decisions. This recognition can significantly reshape the outcomes for families undergoing transitions.

   
   

The Protect and Serve Campaign

Our new 'Protect and Serve' campaign aims to protect children and serve their communities.

With this campaign we are encouraging the public to identify child abusers and help us in bringing them to justice.

If you see any evidence or indicators of parental alienation then you must report it.

There may be financial rewards for any evidence and/or information brought to us or the police that leads to a conviction.

PAPA aims to work closely with the authorities in investigating these claims of child abuse.

In addition to our posters, there will be campaign cards, signs, leaflets and letters to be sent to any offending parties.

Leaflets will be going out to all public sector organisations, including schools and the police.

We want to always give these abusive parents the opportunity to rectify their behaviour before we take matters further.

Communities are always safer without child abusers.

We hope you will all get involved with helping us drive this campaign forward.

The campaign poster is pictured below:

If you would like to help with this campaign by distributing posters in your area, you can download the poster for free here.

Moving Forward Against Child Abuse

Parental alienation is a complex and destructive form of emotional abuse that must be taken seriously.

Its profound effects can overshadow even those inflicted by physical abuse.

Society must recognise its harm, understand its dynamics, and push for accountability for those who perpetrate it.

Children have the right to grow up in environments free from manipulation and emotional distress.

Addressing parental alienation head-on and advocating for its recognition will help create healthier spaces for future generations.

This effort benefits not only individuals directly affected but also fosters a foundation of emotional well-being within society at large.

Join in with the PAPA 'Protect and Serve' campaign and help us put a stop to this abuse!

In need of help or support?

If you are an alienated parent reading this article and feel you are in need of help and support then please make sure to join PAPA today by signing up here on our website.

This will give you access to our community support forum as well as our Resource Centre, which includes downloadable guides and on-demand courses to help through the process of being alienated and regaining contact with your children.

We also have our Facebook support group that you can join here.

Our Facebook support group has several dedicated chat rooms where you can get immediate support.

If you are a member of PAPA you can also send us a message here on the website and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible but please bear in mind, we have hundreds of messages weekly so it may take us a while to get back to you.

We are currently prioritising PAPA Plus members due to high demand.

Regardless of circumstance you are not alone and at PAPA we are here to support you.

Become a PAPA Ambassador

If you like our resources, articles and support networks and agree with what we stand for then why not get involved and help us push PAPA further by joining our Ambassador Program?

We would love for you to join us and help spread awareness for parental alienation and all of the dynamics involved so that we can continue to help parents and children towards a better future.

Our Ambassador Program allows you to grow your involvement with the cause by earning points on your membership.

To earn points we have created rewards for actions such as completing one of our courses, booking a case review, or ordering supply.

We will be adding new rewards and actions to our Ambassador Program as we continue to grow our awareness efforts.

We want our members to feel rewarded for their support as we continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of those impacted by parental alienation.

You can also become a PAPA Plus member, which will give you exclusive access to even more help and resources.

Each PAPA Plus membership makes a huge difference to the cause as it really helps us to improve our services and our awareness campaigns.

Proceeds from memberships and supply allow us to push the cause much further towards raising awareness and improving our services and resources so that we can continue to help more and more parents and children.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support of PAPA and our mission to end parental alienation.