Is Your Child a Victim of PAS? | Geneva Family Law Attorney

 Posted on April 04, 2013 in Child Custody and Support

Divorce and custody issues are always difficult for families to adjust to, but when one parent tries to alienate a child from the other parent, the effect on the child can be heartbreaking. The Parental Alienation Awareness Organization (PAAO) classifies parental alienation as a form or child abuse.

Parental alienation syndrome (PAS) has been recognized as a psychological condition in which the child has such severe opposition to contact with one parent and/or overt hatred toward such parent when there is little and often, no logical reason to explain the child's behavior. Some warning signs that a child is suffering from PAS include:

• A sudden negative change in behavior or attitude toward a parent.
• The child has too much knowledge of details of the parents’ divorce proceedings.
• The child blames the parent for the other parent’s financial difficulties.
• Children are openly rude and hostile to the parent.
• The child has been told too many details of why the marriage failed.
• The child feels guilty if they enjoy their visit time with the parent.
• The child is encouraged to be angry at the parent, and told that there is valid reasons for the anger.
• The child appears visibly uncomfortable around the parent. Not engaging in active conversation or making eye contact.

If you are involved in a custody dispute and you see any of these signs in your child, contact an experienced Kane County family law attorney to help protect your parental rights. The damage done to a child when they are victim of parental alienation syndrome can cause long term psychological damage.