When you have children, divorce is not the end of the journey with you and your former spouse. You must also come together to raise your children, which can be difficult when one parent tries to turn the kids against the other. This situation is unfortunately all-too-common and parents often struggle with how to proceed.
According to Psychology Today, parental alienation is an attempt to curry favor with children by painting the other parent in a negative light. This often involves lies, insults, and insinuations that the parent doesn't truly love the kids or doesn't have their best interests in mind. Children, who are usually vulnerable after a divorce, often take these words to heart and can be easily swayed, to the point where they no longer want a relationship with the subject of the mistreatment. Parental alienation attempts often stem from narcissistic behaviors, which can be devastating to interpersonal relationships.
