There are a few potential reasons why parental alienation is not more commonly known by the general public:
1. Lack of awareness and education. Parental alienation is not something that is widely taught or discussed. Many people may not be familiar with the term or dynamics of parental alienation. More education and activism is still needed to spread understanding.
2. It’s a complex issue. Parental alienation refers to a set of behaviors – it’s not one simple thing. Describing the patterns of alienating behaviors can be nuanced and complex for the general public to grasp. A lack of clear definitions also contributes.
3. High conflict nature. Cases involving parental alienation often stem from very high conflict separations and custody disputes. The intricacies of these situations and ethical considerations around sharing details publicly likely also limit exposure.
4. Mental health & legal intersection. Parental alienation sits at the intersection of mental health and legal realms. Poor understanding across disciplines, jurisdictional inconsistencies and privacy considerations may limit advocacy reach.
Parental alienation is very real but lacks awareness. More coordinated education, research and advocacy is still needed to bring visibility to affected parents and children. Increased public understanding would help provide better recognition and support.
