Parental Alienation vs. Parental Alienation Syndrome

[Zigner]

What does PAS claim to be true that PA does not claim to be true? I'm still trying to understand the difference between these two entities. What is it specifically that makes one quackery and the other legitimate? Is it that one claims to be a "diagnosis" and the other is a "series of actions"? Is that the only sticking point?

PA: I poke you in the arm.
PAS: You have psychological harm caused by the poke in the arm.

 

[proud_parent]

Since Wikipedia appears to be the research tool of choice for father99782, perhaps he should check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_alienation_syndrome

Readers who prefer a more scholarly view might want to check out this article:

http://goo.gl/phtIx


For anyone keeping track, PAS/PAD did not make the cut for inclusion in the DSM-V (due out next month).

 

[Zigner]

Readers who prefer a more scholarly view might want to check out this article:

http://goo.gl/phtIx


For anyone keeping track, PAS/PAD did not make the cut for inclusion in the DSM-V (due out next month).

I really couldn't get past the assertion that "abusers" and "batterers" are men.

 

[proud_parent]

I really couldn't get past the assertion that "abusers" and "batterers" are men.

I hear ya, Zig.

 

[Zigner]

I've forced myself to get past the initial portion of the article and I can see that, for the purposes of this article, such characterization may not be out of place, considering the rubbish behind PAS in the first place. I would encourage others to read it in its entirety, pushing past the apparent bias in the opening sections.

 

[father99782]

PA: I poke you in the arm.
PAS: You have psychological harm caused by the poke in the arm.

Your analogy suggests to me two things: 1) The behaviors exhibited by an alienating parent are relatively minor (e.g. a poke in the arm) and 2) PAS is a misguided diagnosis because it suggests a child is psychologically harmed, whereas PA suggests a child is not psychologically harmed.

Are these correct conclusions?