This study, published in the American Psychological Association journal, Developmental Psychology, is to date the most comprehensive review of scientific data on parental alienation. Dr. Warshak and his coauthors (Harman, Lorandos, & Florian) reviewed 213 studies published in 10 languages through December 2020. The studies provide a wide range of reliable information for judges, lawyers, legislators, therapists, and parents, including the prevalence of parental alienation, the strategies parents use to undermine their child’s relationship with the other parent, how to identify a child who rejects a good parent, and about how courts can help families suffering this problem.

The takeaway message? Parental alienation is real and supported by a legitimate and trustworthy foundation of scientific study. Critics who claim otherwise are wrong and either through ignorance or design are ignoring scientific advances in the field and spreading misinformation.