Parental alienation (PA) science has faced misrepresentation and skepticism, with some critics dismissing it as “junk science.” However, this claim is provably inaccurate and misleading.

Over the past several decades, peer-reviewed research has been conducted by highly credentialed psychiatrists, psychologists, forensic experts, and university researchers, demonstrating that parental alienation is a valid, reliable, and legally recognized phenomenon.

This document evaluates the scientific validity and reliability of parental alienation research by examining key peer-reviewed studies, key textbooks, and legal precedents that affirm its legitimacy.

Table of Contents

What Defines Valid Scientific Research?

For parental alienation research to be scientifically valid, it must meet rigorous validity and reliability criteria, ensuring findings are credible, replicable, and applicable in forensic, legal, and clinical settings.

Validity

Does the Research Measure What It Claims?

Construct Validity – Accurately defines and measures the concept of parental alienation.
Internal Validity – Ensures results are caused by PA rather than extraneous variables.
External Validity – Confirms research can be generalized to broader populations.

Reliability

Can the Results Be Reproduced?

Test-Retest Reliability – Studies yield consistent findings over time.
Inter-Rater Reliability – Different researchers analyzing the same data reach the same conclusions.
Internal Consistency – All study components align with the intended research objectives.

LEARN MORE: Assessing Parental Alienation Using the Scientific Method

Falsifiability & Transparency

Research should be open to different explanations and clearly explain how it was done, so others can review, replicate the study, dispel it (falsifiable), or build on it.

Applying These Standards to Parental Alienation Research

Evaluating the validity and reliability of research on parental alienation is crucial to ensure the robustness and applicability of findings in clinical, forensic, and legal settings.

Importance of Peer Review & Replication

Before being published in most scientific journals, research undergoes a thorough and rigorous review process.

Peer reviewed studies serve as the gold standard in scientific research, ensuring that findings are credible, reliable, and methodologically sound before publication.

Without expert scrutiny, studies risk being unreliable or misleading, underscoring the importance of peer review in scientific progress, forensic science, and legal applications.

How the Peer Review Process Works

Manuscript Submission

Researchers submit their study to a journal, where it undergoes an initial evaluation.

Expert Reviewers Selected

Independent specialists assess the study’s validity, reliability, and significance.

Comprehensive Review & Critique

Experts evaluate methodology, statistical analysis, reproducibility, and contribution to the field.

Feedback & Revisions

Authors refine their work based on reviewers’ critiques.

Final Decision

The journal’s editorial board accepts, rejects, or requests further revisions before publication.

Why Peer Review Matters

Ensures Scientific Credibility

Research undergoes rigorous scrutiny, making it trustworthy and influential in academic, clinical, and legal fields.

Prevents Misinformation

Filters out flawed or biased research, ensuring only valid scientific work is published.

Strengthens Legal & Policy Decisions

Courts and policymakers rely on peer-reviewed studies to guide rulings and public policy.

Encourages Scientific Progress

Peer review drives replication, inquiry, and theory refinement, fostering continuous advancements.

Who Has Confirmed the Validity and Reliability of Parental Alienation Research?

United States Trial and Appellate Courts

U.S. courts have consistently recognized parental alienation as material, probative, and relevant in legal proceedings.

Judges increasingly rely on research and expert forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals to assess and address PA in custody disputes.

Parental Alienation in U.S. Courts (1985–2018)

LEARN MORE: Parental Alienation in U.S. Courts, 1985 to 2018 (Lorandos, 2020)

Key Contributions

PA has been increasingly cited in court rulings over the past three decades.
Expert testimony on PA is widely considered admissible and legally relevant.
PA is a Recognized Legal and Psychological Issue
Courts have frequently considered parental alienation when evaluating child custody arrangements, modifications, and family reunification interventions.
The study documents an increase in PA cases being considered by U.S. courts, reflecting growing acceptance and understanding of its impact on children and families.
Expert Testimony on PA is Considered Admissible
Judges have frequently relied on forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health experts to assess PA and make informed expert opinions and custody determinations when appropriate.

Legal and Scientific Significance of Parental Alienation Research

The recognition of parental alienation in trial and appellate courts underscores its scientific credibility, empirical validity, and forensic relevance.

As PA continues to be studied in peer-reviewed research and legal precedent, courts and professionals must rely on evidence-based assessments to protect children from psychological harm and ensure fair custody determinations.

Evaluation – High construct validity, strong inter-rater reliability, legally relevant findings, peer-reviewed analysis.

Small Sample of Peer-Reviewed Articles on Parental Alienation Science and Research

Parental Alienation, DSM-V, and ICD-11 (Bernet et al., 2010)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – The American Journal of Family Therapy
Key Contribution – Establishes PA as a valid psychological disorder.
Evaluation – High construct validity, strong inter-rater reliability.

Child Affected by Parental Relationship Distress (CAPRD) (Bernet et al., 2016)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Key Contribution – Highlights the psychological impact of PA on children, and the diagnostic term in the DSM-5.
Evaluation – High internal validity, peer-reviewed diagnostic framework.

Allegations of Family Violence in Court – How Parental Alienation Affects Judicial Outcomes (Harman & Lorandos, 2020)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Psychology, Public Policy, and Law
Key Contribution – Investigates PA’s impact on legal decisions.
Evaluation – High forensic applicability, legally relevant findings.

Recurrent Misinformation Regarding Parental Alienation Theory (Bernet, 2021)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – The American Journal of Family Therapy
Key Contribution – Addresses and refutes misinformation about PA.
Evaluation – High external validity, reviewed multiple PA studies.

Measuring the Difference Between Parental Alienation and Parental Estrangement – The PARQ-Gap” (Bernet et al., 2020)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Journal of Forensic Sciences
Key Contribution – Introduces a method to distinguish PA from justified estrangement.
Evaluation – Strong inter-rater reliability, reproducible study design.

The Long-Term Effects of Parental Alienation on Adult Children: A Qualitative Research Study (Baker, 2005)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – The American Journal of Family Therapy
Key Contribution – Documents long-term psychological harm from PA.
Evaluation – High construct validity, confirmed through qualitative analysis.

Behaviors and Strategies Employed in Parental Alienation – A Survey of Parental Experiences”(Baker & Darnall, 2006)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Journal of Divorce & Remarriage
Key Contribution – Identifies PA tactics used by alienating parents.
Evaluation – Strong internal consistency, statistically validated survey.

The Linkage Between Parental Alienation Behaviors and Child Alienation” (Baker & Eichler, 2016)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Journal of Divorce & Remarriage
Key Contribution – Correlates alienating behaviors with child alienation.
Evaluation – High reliability, controlled for external variables.

Parental Alienating Behaviors: An Unacknowledged Form of Family Violence (Harman et al., 2018)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Psychological Bulletin
Key Contribution – Defines PA as a form of child psychological abuse.
Evaluation – High external validity, cross-study comparisons.

Parents Behaving Badly: Gender Biases in the Perception of Parental Alienating Behaviors (Harman et al., 2016)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Journal of Family Psychology
Key Contribution – Examines gender biases in PA perception.
Evaluation – Strong test-retest reliability, peer-reviewed analysis.

The Assessment of the Attitudes and Behaviors About Physically Abused Children (Baker, Miller, Bernet, 2019)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Journal of Child and Family Studies
Key Contribution – Prevalence of Attachment-Enhancing Behaviors in abused children.
Summary – This extensive study, involving over 17,000 adjudicated children, found that abused children rarely rejected their caregiver. Instead, they displayed attachment-enhancing behaviors, such as clinging to their parent and making excuses for the abuse.
Evaluation – High construct validity, well-controlled case study methodology, strong peer-reviewed analysis.

Parental Alienating Behaviors – An Unacknowledged Form of Family Violence (Harmon, Kruk, Hines, 2018)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Psychological Bulletin
Key Contribution – Defines parental alienation as a form of family violence and its impact.
Evaluation – High construct validity, strong test-retest reliability, peer-reviewed analysis.

Findings of Abuse in Families Affected by Parental Alienation” (Harman & Lorandos, 2023)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Journal of Family Violence
Key Contribution – Correlates PA behaviors with abuse allegations.
Evaluation – High construct validity, well-controlled case study methodology.

Allegations of Family Violence in Court (Lorandos, 2020)

Peer Reviewed and Published in – Family Court Review
Key Contribution – Examines how PA allegations influence judicial outcomes.
Evaluation – Legally admissible, peer-reviewed forensic analysis.

Additional Resources – Key Textbooks Accepted by the Scientific Community

Parental Alienation: Science and Law

Authors – Demosthenes Lorandos, William Bernet
Published by – Charles C. Thomas Publisher, 2020
Summary – Explores the scientific and legal aspects of parental alienation.

Parental Alienation – The Handbook for Mental Health and Legal Professionals

Editors – Demosthenes Lorandos, William Bernet, S. Richard Sauber
Published by – Charles C. Thomas Publisher, 2013
Summary – Provides a comprehensive guide for legal and mental health professionals working on parental alienation cases.

Children Held Hostage – Identifying Brainwashed Children, Presenting a Case, and Crafting Solutions

Authors – Stanley S. Clawar, Brynne V. Rivlin
Published by – American Bar Association, 2013
Summary – 20 year study of families affected by parental alienation ~ published by the American Bar Association of Florida.

Working with Alienated Children and Families: A Clinical Guidebook

Editors – Amy J.L. Baker, S. Richard Sauber
Published by – Routledge, 2013
Summary – A clinical guidebook written by acclaimed researchers in the parental alienation field.

Conclusion

Parental alienation science has faced misrepresentation and skepticism, often from individuals with questionable motivesor misunderstandings of scientific research standards. However, rigorous, peer-reviewed research conducted by highly credentialed experts in psychiatry, psychology, and legal studies provides overwhelming empirical evidence supporting its validity.

By applying the gold standard of scientific inquiry—ensuring validity, reliability, peer review, and replication—studies on parental alienation have demonstrated its real-world impact on children, families, and legal systems. Research findings underscore that parental alienation is not only a psychological phenomenon but also a legal and social issue that requires evidence-based interventions.

Despite opposition, the growing body of literature continues to refine diagnostic tools, improve therapeutic strategies, and inform judicial decisions to protect children and targeted parents. Rather than dismissing parental alienation science, it is imperative for professionals, courts, and policymakers to rely on credible, validated research to guide decisions that serve the best interests of children and families.