Parental alienation — the forced separation of a child from their parents — has substantial and dangerous impacts on the psychology of children, with links to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues later in life. Such alienation can occur in divorce situations and by government or other officials. This is an abusive act that represents a misuse of governmental authority along the United States border, with potentially grave impacts on the children that are experiencing it.
Key Takeaways:
- Parental alienation invariably involves both a deliberate strategy by a third party to sever the parental bond and serious consequences for both the child and the alienated parent.
- Two common forms of parental alienation are the alienation of a parent as part of a divorce and the alienation of parents by government officials in pursuit of immigration enforcement.
- Parental alienation can lead to serious and sometimes irreversible psychological consequences for both parent and child, including serious anxiety and depression and post-traumatic stress.
“One of the more dire consequences of parental alienation is a feeling of self-hatred on the part of a child.”