When one spouse attempts to distance their child from the other parent, they are guilty of parental alienation. Typical examples of alienating behavior include insulting, belittling, or physically keeping the child away from the other parent.
Divorce is already a sensitive area of family law without the adding hostility that alienation introduces to the mix. If you suspect that your soon-to-be ex-spouse is alienating your child from you, it is important for you to know exactly how this can impact a young person’s mind and your divorce.
Parental alienation can affect your children in the long-term
Psychologists explain that parental alienation is a form of child abuse that can lead to mental health issues and a lack of self-esteem. In the context of a marital split, the alienating parent might be trying to use the child as a means of “winning” the divorce. This can severely harm the child’s relationship with both parents and give rise to trust issues that may last a lifetime.
Parental alienation can alter the outcome of your divorce
Child custody is often a heated point of contention between divorcing couples. The imminent loss of child custody could even be a factor in a hostile parent beginning to exhibit alienating behaviors. Because parental alienation is a form of abuse, however, you should collect evidence of this behavior so that the outcome of your divorce is such that the hostile parent can no longer abuse your child anymore.
While parental alienation can be a complicated issue to unravel, it is a clear-cut example of abuse that you can nip in the bud by presenting evidence to the court during your divorce. Keep in mind that your child’s well-being should be the top priority, especially after experiencing such a blatant form of abusive control.