Parental alienation is the systematic effort of a parent to alter the feelings and behavior of a child with regard to their relationship with their other parent. Parental alienation takes many forms and is a favorite approach for bitter custody combatants.

Everyone knows someone who has gone through a really ugly divorce. It is common for either or both parents to say mean-spirited things about the other parent, or behave in a way that makes it clear to children that the other parent has definitely fallen out of favor. Even children of couples who are divorcing amicably can feel the tension and strain between their parents.