Estrangement and parental alienation are both terms that describe a breakdown in the relationship between a parent and child, but they refer to different situations.
Estrangement is the term used to describe a situation in which an adult child or minor child voluntarily and intentionally chooses to sever or significantly reduce contact with a parent. Estrangement can occur for a variety of reasons, such as ongoing conflict, abuse, neglect, or differences in values or lifestyles. In cases of estrangement, the child is seen as an active participant in the decision to distance themselves from the parent.
Parental alienation, on the other hand, is a term used to describe a situation in which one parent deliberately and systematically undermines the relationship between a child and the other parent. This can involve making false accusations of abuse, denying or restricting access to the child, or engaging in other behaviors that are intended to turn the child against the other parent. In cases of parental alienation, the child is seen as a victim of manipulation or coercion by the alienating parent.
The key difference between estrangement and parental alienation is the role of each party in the breakdown of the relationship. In cases of estrangement, the child is seen as an active participant in the decision to distance themselves from the parent, whereas in cases of parental alienation, the child is seen as a victim of manipulation or coercion by the alienating parent.
It is important to note that the term parental alienation is controversial and not universally accepted as a diagnosis or legal term.
©Linda Turner
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