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Parental Alienation Defined Parental alienation is not abandonment or protecting a child from abuse; it is a form of psychological abuse. It involves a deliberate campaign of denigration, brainwashing, and manipulation of the child to reject the other parent. Alienating Behaviors Alienation occurs when one parent actively manipulates a child against the other parent, which can be unconscious or conscious. These behaviors involve brainwashing, manipulating, or lying to the child, often supported by family members or other influential figures in the child’s life. The Impact on Children Parental alienation disrupts children’s primary attachment bonds, causing deep psychological harm. Children may develop symptoms like Stockholm syndrome, where they begin to rationalize the alienating parent’s behavior and vilify the targeted parent. Alienation as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Parental alienation is considered psychological abuse, one of the categories of ACEs. It often coexists with other form