ABSTRACT
There is little information in the literature about the role of other family members in the alienation process. Other family members can include grandparents, step-parents, siblings, uncles and aunts. This chapter describes the role extended family members can play in facilitating and preventing parental alienation. Consideration is given to the ways extended family members can reinforce parental alienation by actively engaging in alienation tactics or passively allowing it to occur. Indeed, some extended family members can be the alienator. This chapter will also explore how extended families can prevent the alienation process from occurring and can help to lessen the negative consequences of parental alienation and facilitate the reunification process.
