In 1985, a man named Richard Gardner coined a medical term called Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS). Quite interestingly, this is one of the major reasons for the rise of divorce rates in contemporary society. In simple terms, it's called Parental alienation. Gardner describes the term as a condition of growing alienation between a child and his parents. As a result, there are deep psychological effects on the child due to which the child become increasingly hostile and antagonistic towards the other parent. The child also indulges in excessive depreciation or criticism towards the targeted parent. One of the main reasons for this kind of behavior could be the attitude of one parent, as induced in the child such behavioral patterns, which maybe further encouraged, directly or indirectly, by the other parent.

Mothers, being naturally closer to their children than the fathers were believed to be the chief causes of parental alienation. At least that is what statistics unearthed by Gardner revealed. Usually the mothers seek to alienate fathers from their children, often by hurling false charges against the father to turn their children against them. As a result, this syndrome is often used as a valid point in custody battles. Parental Alienation Syndrome however has been noticed in men as well. As a result it can be seen that even men play a great role in alienating kids from their mothers.

For quite a long time, Parental Alienation Syndrome had not been accepted as a valid point in custody cases. However, of late, courts in the United States have accepted it while in the United Kingdom, it still awaits recognition. However, there is still a great deal of controversy about the existence and scientific validity of the Parental Alienation Syndrome. It has been widely criticized universally. Even the APA or the American Psychological Association has been very cautious about adopting any stance on the issue of parental alienation as a valid psychological condition. The Association has often criticized the misuse of the syndrome as well.

At this point, it is perhaps useless to debate the authenticity of such a condition. But, it is true that PAS is being used as an instrument of hate and revenge between couples who are out on a vendetta against each other. The children vacillate between one parent and the other and ultimately ending up taking sides for no concrete reason at all.

Though it is true sometimes, at other moments, they are just an expression of hate and revenge. For this dicey nature perhaps, PAS is still being denied any official validity. The fate of this still remains to be seen and as always, nothing but time will tell.