Divorce: Myths and realities of Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)

Parental Alienation Syndrome should be reconstituted and renamed due to its bias and its execrable history

Joaquín Díaz Atienza - child psychiatrist

Introduction

This post is a reaction to the article "A scientific fraud is behind the impunity for child sexual abuse" by Tasia Aránguez Sánchez which I consider riddled with biases and half-truths that fail to describe the reality of child custody disputes in divorce cases. We cannot generalize or categorize such a varied and complex situation based on isolated cases, be it that of "Maria isn't leaving" or any other. Acting in that way, methodologically, is also scientific fraud.

The author says she is writing her article to denounce the "A mechanism by which a reactionary ideology, close to Vox, has infiltrated our judicial system..."When the judicial system introduced Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), Vox neither existed nor was it expected to. I would have to counter that PAS attempts to conceptualize a very varied, and not infrequent, situation that arises in divorce proceedings involving couples with children, and which is characterized by the marked suffering inflicted on the children. a consequence of the irrationality of parents trapped in a mutual relationship of hatredA hatred that blinds them rationally to the point of becoming absolutely impervious to any professional argument aimed at safeguarding the best interests of the child.

Is SAP a scientific fraud?

SAP was described in 1985 by the psychiatrist Richard GardnerA sinister, avaricious, selfish, and pedophilic character (according to his enemies, although nothing has been proven) who ended up serving the interests of the American pedophile movement Man/Boy Love NAMBLA (acronym for North American Man/Boy Love Association). This association, by the way, publicly maintains apologetic messages about pedophilia without the feminist movement or governments taking any action to have its website shut down.

Whether or not SAP includes it, International Classifications (DSM 5, ICD 11) It says nothing, in principle, for or against the clinical existence of this syndrome. What is certain, however, is that it will never be accepted as Gardner proposed it. The fundamental reason is that this psychiatrist took advantage of the frequent disagreements between parents regarding custody arrangements to defend a number of pedophiles who had previously abused their own children. Therefore, in my opinion, Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), as described and maintained by its creator, does not exist. I believe he intentionally focused it on the issue of sexual abuse and on discrediting all mothers who report abuse, based on the fact that some had made false accusations. Hence the strong support he received from NAMBLA.

So why does Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) persist in certain environments, whether judicial or professional? Here I will attempt to offer my opinion, which is simply the conclusion of someone who, even before PAS was described, was already facing situations that were very detrimental to the mental health of children of divorced parents.

1. Until a few years ago, the guardianship and custody was given systematically to the mother. Regardless of whether the divorce was traumatic or not. Regardless of whether there were any complaints or not.
2. This measure has been a reason for demands of many parents, without receiving attention from family courts, until a few years ago when it became "fashionable," which in my opinion was counterproductive. shared custody almost systematically.
3. We who think that There are mothers and fathers who are excessively hurt. with the separation and who try, by all means, to take revenge on their partner for the divorce. A pain that, on many occasions, becomes pathological to the extent that it paralyzes reason, completely dominated by utterly negative emotions.
4. In situations as extreme as those I have described, any resource is justified to to carry out revenge. And this destructive feeling isn't exclusive to women; it's also observable in men. They speak ill of the other parent to their children, taking advantage of any opportunity (school, childcare, meals, comings and goings, etc.) to discredit and vilify her. They do it without any regard for their children and try to make them co-participants in their opinions, seeking their assent and alliance.
5. The children, meanwhile, feel trapped in a discourse with which they do not always agree, and even suffer in silence because they still maintain attachment to both parental figuresDepending on the aggressiveness of the speech, and the presence or absence of threats, they become fearful and They try not to contradict the disqualifying parental figure....at the cost of jeopardizing their own mental health. Quite often, this even occurs anxious and/or depressive symptoms which the disqualifying parental figure will interpret, in their blindness, as a consequence of the visits.
6. I've seen controlling parents, who have used their sons as police officers to to control the life of their ex-partner and by putting destructive labels on the mother. They do everything they can to prevent their ex-partner from moving on with their life. I've seen to mothers who are trying to do exactly the same thing with regard to his ex-partner. I have seen sons (in the masculine) who tolerate their father living with a new partner, while they do not allow the mother to do so under any circumstances, interfering in their parents' dynamic, creating discord, even inventing stories, to prevent it.

The situations are as diverse as the people who get divorced.. When a separation occurs in an atmosphere of hatred, revenge, and narcissistic wounds, it's not difficult to find couples who prioritize their need to feel repaired over the well-being of their children. To achieve this, they will do whatever it takes, even using their children, instrumentalizing them to hurt the other person. Any method is acceptable, regardless of whether it is ethical or not, humane or not, including... instrumental complaints.

Can this be called SAP?. I don't care. What is a reality, however, is the reality I've described.

Of course, sexism exists, and so does misandry. It's also true that not every father is suspect simply for being a man, just as not all mothers are good mothers or saints simply for being women. It's also true that it's our obligation as professionals to educate so that the always traumatic situations of divorce are resolved peacefully and always with the best interests of the children in mind.

And since today is International Women's Day, I want to congratulate you with this video.