Stage 2 - A Moderate Alienated Child of Parental Alienation Syndrome

Stage 2 - A Moderate Alienated Child of Parental Alienation Syndrome

A Moderate Alienated Child of Parental Alienation Syndrome

Moderate

In moderate cases of PAS there is a significant degree of parental programming, that results in significant problems around the time of Contact. The PAS-inducing parent is very likely to interact with the targeted parent in a manner designed to create conflict so that Contact will eventually wither and die. In the moderate stage the child will display anxiety on a more frequent basis around the time of transition, and in all other circumstances. The child's anxiety normally passes once transition has taken place and very soon afterwards the child is able to relax and become involved with the targeted parent. The child's bond with the PAS-inducing parent is reasonably healthy, although they will probably share the same conviction that the vilification directed at the targeted parent is justified.

The following is not an exhaustive list, but other factors to consider in the moderate stage would include:

 The PAS-inducing parent refusing to communicate or co-operate directly with the targeted parent.

 The PAS-inducing parent giving the child total control over Contact arrangements.

 Where the PAS-inducing parent talks of, or shows disrespect of the targeted parent in the child's presence. i.e. when the targeted parent calls, the PAS-inducing parent gives the phone to the child saying "It's him/her" or "It's your father/mother in a disgusted tone of voice. This would also include hanging up the phone on the targeted parent or silently handing the phone to the child.

 Doing and undoing statements - negative comments made about the targeted parent then denied.

 The child will feel compelled to keep separate worlds and identities with each parent.

Sometimes, a PAS-inducing parent will understand the theoretical importance of the other parent in the life of the child, but believes that in his/her case, the targeted parent, due to character deficiencies, cannot be important to the child. Their statements and behaviours can be subtle but very damaging to the child.

The moderate cases are the most common. It is in this category that the alienating parent's programming of the child is likely to be formidable and they may utilize a wide variety of exclusionary tactics. All eight of the primary manifestations are likely to be present, and each is more advanced than one sees in the mild cases, but less pervasive than one sees in the severe type. The campaign of denigration is more prominent, especially at transition times when the child appreciates that deprecation of the alienated parent is just what the alienating parent wants to hear. The children in this category are less fanatic in their vilification of the alienated parent than those in the severe category, but more than those in the mild category. The rationalizations for the deprecation are more numerous, more frivolous, and more absurd than those seen in the mild cases. None of the normal ambivalence that children inevitably have with regard to each of their parents is present. The alienated parent is described as all bad, and the alienating parent as all good. The child professes that he (she) is the sole orignator of the feelings of acrimony against the alienated parent. The reflexive support for the alienating parent in any conflict is predictable. The child's absence of guilt is so great that the child may appear psychopathic in his (her) insensivity to the grief being visited upon the alienated parent. Borrowed-scenario elements are likely to be included in the child's campaign of denigration. Whereas in the mild category there may still be loving relationships with the alienated parent's extended family, in the moderate cases these relatives become viewed as clones of the alienated parent and are similarly subjected to the campaigns of revulsion and denigration.

Whereas in the mild cases transition times present few difficulties, in the moderate cases there may be formidable problems at the time of transfer, but the children are ultimately willing to go off with the alienated parent, while professisng significant reluctance. Once removed entirely from their alienating parent's purview, the children generally quiet down, relax their guard, and involve themselves benevolently with their alienated parent. This is in contrast to the severe category where visitation is either impossible or, if the children do enter the alienated parent's home their purpose is to make his life unbearable by ongoing vilification, destruction of property, and practically incessant provocative behavior. The primary motive for the children's scenarios of denigration is to maintain the stronger, healthy psychological bond with the alienating parent.

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