What Is Hostile Aggressive Parenting?

How parents inflict parental alienation syndrome on their children

At Bryan L. Salamone & Associates, P.C., we witness a great deal of animosity between divorcing spouses, but nothing is uglier than the deliberate attempt of one parent to poison the children's minds against the other. Psychology and the law have caught on to this behavior, and we at Salamone & Associates are always on guard against it. As part of our vigilant efforts to protect your parental rights and your children's welfare, we are prepared to take decisive action to force the court to remedy this cruel and abusive behavior known as hostile aggressive parenting (HAP).

Hostile aggressive parenting is child abuse

Hostile aggressive parents are not capable of appreciating the needs of their child, and usually view their child as a possession belonging to them alone and no other person, especially the other parent that the HAP parent is targeting. The disorder varies in severity from parent to parent. While some parents resort to insulting the other parent in front of the child on a daily basis, another parent insists on relocating the child without reason. Some parents will even make false accusations of sexual abuse on the children in an attempt to destroy the child's relationship with the other parent.

A child naturally feels affection for both parents. When one parent behaves in a consistently hostile manner towards the other, and exerts pressure on a child to feel the same anger and resentment, that behavior causes confusion and distress in the child. The child may begin to fear the targeted parent and view him or her with suspicion. When those feelings take root in the child and undermine his or her relationship with the targeted parent, the condition is known as parental alienation syndrome (PAS).

Warning signs of HAP and PAS

A HAP/PAS dynamic may emerge where these behaviors are present:

  • Blaming the targeted parent for anything possible
  • Questioning a child about the details of the targeted parent’s personal life
  • Scheduling activities that conflict with the targeted parent’s visitation
  • Eavesdropping on phone conversations between the child and the targeted parent
  • Refusing the targeted parent access to a child’s medical/school records
  • Acting hurt or sad if the child expresses a desire to see the targeted parent
  • Creating temptations for the child to avoid visitation with the targeted parent

If you are a parent involved in some form of custody litigation, and you believe that the other parent may be an alienator, you should consider the possible effects of parental alienation syndrome on your children. You should also retain an attorney prepared to combat it in court.

Court recognition of HAP/PAS in divorce actions

The Courts are embracing the idea of PAS, and it is now becoming an integral concept in custody litigation. Salamone & Associates attacks this issue head on, using expert witnesses such as forensic psychologists. We take this matter very seriously, because we know PAS can often have long-lasting effects and may even result in permanent alienation.

Your children are our priority. Call us now.

Contact Bryan L. Salamone & Associates, P.C. online for a free initial consultation with our skilled Long Island attorneys for your parental alienation case. If your case is urgent, do not email. Call us immediately at 1.631.479.3839.