Parental alienation is the process, and the result, of psychological manipulation of a child into showing unwarranted fear, disrespect or hostility towards a parent and/or other family members. Parental alienation typically occurs in divorce cases and carried out by the custodial parent 87% of the time.

Parental alienation is accepted among scholar communities to be a form of child abuse and can cause psychological trauma, depression, self-hatred, substance abuse among other addiction, and low self-esteem. With a divorce rate of around 50%, you can see why this over looked form of child abuse needs to be addressed and discussed.

Victims of this abuse are much more likely to be alienated themselves from their own children, creating a possible cycle. Although there has been research conducted and this form abuse is pretty well understood, its still worth discussing to discourage and make known this form of abuse in children.