From Parenting Abused Children: Hope, Healing, and Insight
The following is a group of excellent links to papers and articles about Parental Alienation Syndrome and how the use of this fictitious syndrome by the Family Courts is harming our nation's children. Does parental alienation exist? Yes, it does. But true Parental Alienation is a far cry from the so-called Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS).
Point of View
According to one definition, "Parental alienation syndrome [PAS] is the brainwashing or programming of a child by
one parent to denigrate and alienate the other parent."
PAS, a phrase coined by the late Dr. Richard Gardner, arises almost exclusively during child custody disputes, and primarily focuses on alienation of the child's father, by the mother. It supposedly occurs when the mother alienates the child's affection for the opposing parent, often by accusing the other parent of child sexual abuse.
God help the mother, these days, who even suggests her child is being abused by an ex-husband. If she does, she stands a good chance of losing her child.
The PAS theory was developed by Richard Gardner, a psychologist,
around 1985. One must note though that Gardner was seen by many as
having extreme views and, according to his writings, a perceived
acceptance of pedophilia. Gardner committed suicide in 2003.
According to the late Dr. Gardner, children who accuse their father of
sexual abuse, are being force fed lies by the mother, in an attempt to
have the children's visitation with their father stopped by the court.
Dr. Gardner's theory proposes that "' ... the vast majority of allegations in this category [divorce
cases with custody disputes] are false.'"
According to an article by the American Prosecutors Research Institute, entitled Parental Alienation
Syndrome: What Professionals Need to Know, the PAS theory is based primarily upon two notions, "neither of which has a foundation in empirical research."
Theory I
There is a high incidence of false allegations.
Research, however, does not support his theory. In fact, studies have shown that the incidence of false allegations is very small.
In a 1990 study by Thoennes and Tjaden, 9,000 divorces in 12 states were studied. It was found that sexual abuse allegations were made in less than 2 percent of the
contested divorces involving child custody.
Out of that two percent, only 5%-8% were determined to be false.
In her article, Merrilyn McDonald, M.S.W, who does forensic work as a guardian ad litem in Bremerton, Washington, reports that in Australia, studies showed that allegations of sexual abuse were present in only 1.7 percent of custody or
visitation dispute cases.
She went on to write that in Canada, hospital records involving sexual abuse allegations of children were reviewed. The review indicated that "... children of parents involved in custody disputes had as much physical evidence of sexual abuse as children of non-disputing parents."
"In a study that looked at all reports of sexual
abuse received by the Denver child protective services In 1983, child protective
social workers reported that 53 percent of allegations were well founded, 24
percent didn’t have enough information to allow substantiation, 17 percent were
made in good faith and involved a legitimate concern, but had other
explanations, and 6 percent were probably false."
Other studies have indicated that false allegation rates range between 2% to 8%.
Dr. Gardner developed, what he called, the “Sex Abuse Legitimacy Scale.” Dr. Gardner claimed that this scale can point out falsely accusing
mothers and children.
Jon Conte, editor of the “Journal of Interpersonal Violence,” stated his opinion of the "Sex Abuse Legitimacy Scale": "“Probably the most unscientific piece of garbage I’ve seen in the field in all
my life.”
Dr. Gardner self-published this scale, which has never been subjected to scientific scrutiny or empirical studies.
It's interesting to note that in his book, True and False Accusations
of Sexual Abuse, Gardner wrote, " ...our present overreaction to pedophilia represents an exaggeration of
Judeo-Christian principles and is a significant factor operative in Western
society’s a typicality with regard to such activities."
Theory Number II:
"Women more often than men resort to making false allegations of abuse in
disputed custody proceedings."
Dr. Gardner's theory is that mothers encourage false
accusations in order to obtain financial or strategic advantage during custody
determinations."
According to the American Prosecutors Research Institute, "This hypothesis ignores
the fact that most sex offenders are indeed men."
"It also fails to account for
the possibility that the divorce process might liberate an abused child from the
heavy burden associated with keeping a secret like sexual abuse, or that
post-divorce living conditions or circumstances might render a child vulnerable
to sexual abuse... It is a courtroom diagnosis befitting adversaries involved in legal sparring."
The American Prosecutors Research Institute goes on to state: "In short,
PAS is an untested theory that, unchallenged, can have far-reaching consequences
for children seeking protection and legal vindication in courts of
law...
... Prosecutors and other child abuse professionals should educate
themselves, their colleagues and clients when confronting PAS in the legal
realm."
[For Part II, PAS & Case Law, read here]
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