HOW DOES AN ALIENATED CHILD BEHAVE?

The behavioral manifestations of a severely alienated child—that Richard Gardner found in

the 1980s—have been confirmed over and over again:

1. Campaign of denigration:   The child behaves rudely, arrogantly, disrespectfully, and entitled toward the targeted parent. The child has no qualms about denigrating that parent to others in the community. The child has difficulty recalling or acknowledging any positive memories of the targeted parent.
2. Weak, frivolous, or absurd reasons for the rejection:  The child will offer reasons, such as the floors being scratched or not liking the targeted parent's hairstyle or clothes. The child will sometimes refuse to offer a reason, claiming to have done so too many times before when that is not the case. 
3. Lack of ambivalence:    A child suffering from PAS will see no redeeming qualities in the alienated parent. In their eyes, the parent doing the alienating can do no wrong, but their feelings towards the alienated parent are wholly negative and critical.  The child claims to worship the alienating the parent beyond what is appropriate, necessary, or realistic while claiming to despise the targeted parent. 8-0th responses are unrealistic and show an Inability to see each parent as a mix of good and bad qualities.
4. “Independent thinker” phenomenon:    Even though the alienating parent has brainwashed the child to hate or fear the alienated parent, the child will insist that their reasons for this hatred are their own. The child will deny that any ideas came from the alienating parent.  The child strenuously insists that the alienating parent played no role in his/her rejection of the targeted parent despite the alienating parent's obvious influence. 
5. Reflexive support of the alienating parent:      No matter the alienating parent’s position, the child will always take their side over the targeted parent. The child is unwilling to be impartial or hear out the alienated parent when there are parental disagreements or conflicts. The child sides with the alienating parent, no matter how absurd, ideological, or inconsistent that parent's position is. 
6. Absence of guilt:    Children with PAS typically don’t experience feelings of guilt for their harsh treatment of the alienated parent. In most cases, they will act ungrateful, spiteful, or cold toward the alienated parent and appear unimpressed by any gifts or favors the targeted parent offers. While behaving rudely and callously, the child fails to manifest awareness of or care about the pain being inflicted on the targeted parent.
7. The presence of borrowed scenarios:    Alienated children will often borrow adult language or ideas from their alienator that they do not appear to understand. The child may also make accusations about events that never happened or that they cannot support with evidence.  The child uses words, phrases, and concepts that are not understood, cannot be defined, and are readily attributable to the ideas and beliefs of the alienating parent.
8. Rejection of extended family and friends of the rejected parent:    Unfortunately, an alienated child's resentment toward the targeted parent can also extend to their relatives. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents who were once loved may suddenly be despised and avoided. The first step to stopping parental alienation is learning how to read the signs. If you fear your child has become the victim of parental alienation, working with a family counselor or family law attorney can help you determine your next steps.

The child cuts off and/or denigrates formerly beloved friends, neighbors, and family based on their association with the targeted parent.  

Baker, A.J.L., Darnall, D. (2006). Behaviors and Strategies Employed in Parental Alienation: A Survey of Parental Experiences. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage 45, 97-124.