ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the ways in which alienating parents can be identified. This is achieved by recognising the tactics used by alienating parents to influence the relationship between the targeted parent and their child. The tactics of alienating parents are broadly divided into three categories. The first category of tactics identifies those tactics directly focused on the targeted parent. Examples include the denigration and vilification of the targeted parent, interference with the time the targeted parent spends with the child and attempts to eradicate the targeted parent from the child’s life. The second category includes tactics that focus on the alienated child. These include interrogation of the child, inappropriate disclosures to the child and encouraging child defiance. The third category relates to tactics that focus on forming an alliance between the alienating parent and the child, such as emotional manipulation, and tactics that can be used gather support for the alienation of the targeted parent.
