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