Parental alienation is a phenomenon where a child unjustifiably rejects one of their parents, often as an outcome driven by the manipulative behaviours of the other parent. These behaviours can include acts of denigration and the promotion of distorted perceptions of adult issues, which leads the child to form a strong alliance with one parent while vilifying the other. It is an increasingly scrutinised and controversial issue in family courts, child & family services, and academic research. There are challenges in researching this phenomenon, stemming from legal and ethical constraints, in addition to difficulties in obtaining accurate prevalence data, limiting research opportunities. Therefore, this literature review aims to evaluate research exploring the lived experiences of individuals who endured parental alienation during their childhoods.
This literature review will critique primary empirical research which captures the lived experiences of parental alienation and its impacts on the childhood of children affected, through the theoretical lens of social cognitive learning theory (SCLT). This theoretical approach enables a nuanced examination of how alienating behaviours are internalized, what this means for resulting behaviour adaptions in children and psychological impacts on their well-being and development. Through this endeavour, this research aims to enrich understanding and provide unique insights into the psychological implications of this complex phenomenon.
The findings reveal a range of adversities affecting children's psychological and mental well-being, which have not previously been considered in such theoretical light, revealing not only the profound emotional turmoil and long-enduring psychological effects, marked by confusion, sadness, anger, and other complex emotions but identifying how these emotions are intrinsically linked to their fractured self-identities and altered perceptions of parental roles. These insights highlight the complex interplay between learned behaviours and emotional and behavioural responses within alienated family environments. Furthermore, despite the considerable adversities faced, this study identifies pathways to resilience and recovery, offering hope for those impacted by parental alienation.
This literature review contributes valuable perspectives to the field, illustrating the potential for overcoming these challenges posed by parental alienation, and informing future recommendations for social work practice and research
