Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties That Bind (Norton Professional Book) [Hardcover]

Amy J. L. Baker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0393705196 | ISBN-13: 978-0393705195 | Edition: 1

An examination of adults who have been manipulated by divorcing parents.

Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) occurs when divorcing parents use children as pawns, trying to turn the child against the other parent. This book examines the impact of PAS on adults and offers strategies and hope for dealing with the long-term effects.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“As a parent who has been there...gained from this book the resolve to try again, no matter how painful.” (Fathermag.com )

“It should be mandatory reading for any custody evaluator or attorney involved in high conflict divorces where parental alienation is present.” (Margarethe S. Smith, MA )

“[W]ill become a classic . . . . it is a milestone in the field.” (Jayne A. Major, PhD, Stop Parental Alienation of Children (SPAC) )

“Dr. Baker . . . has put PAS on the map as a significant form of emotional abuse afflicting adults long after they leave their childhood years behind. This is a book worth reading, assigning to students, and keeping as a reference.” (S. Richard Sauber, PhD, co-author of International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome )

About the Author

Dr. Amy J. L. Baker is director of research at the Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child protection of the New York Foundling. She earned her doctorate in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College of Columbia University in 1989. She has experience with both quantitative as well as qualitative research methodologies and has taught research methodology at both the undergraduate as well as graduate levels at both Columbia and Fordham University. In addition to Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome published by W. W. Norton, Dr. Baker is the first author of a text book on child welfare research methods published by Columbia University Press. She is also the author or co-author of 50 academic articles. She has published in scientific peer-reviewed journals including Early Childhood Education Quarterly, Child Welfare, Social Work Research, Applied Behavioral Sciences Review, International Journal of Social Work, Child and Adolescent Social Work, The Elementary School Journal, and the Macmillan Psychology Reference Series on Child Development. Areas of research expertise include parent-child attachment, early intervention, parent involvement, mental health of youth, and child welfare. She lives in Teaneck New Jersey and is the mother of 21-year-old and 4-year-old daughters.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (April 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393705196
• ISBN-13: 978-0393705195
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Relationships > Divorce
  • #98 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Abuse & Self Defense > Sexual Abuse

More About the Author

I have a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Teachers College of Columbia University. I have studied and published articles on several different aspects of parent child relationships and child abuse. I have written 4 articles about PAS in addition to this book. I am the director of research at the Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Read" for All Parties Victimized by PAS (and the Professionals Who Work with Them), April 23, 2007

By 

PAS Parent (San Francisco Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties That Bind (Norton Professional Book) (Hardcover)

I'm the "targeted parent" 10 years into a PAS situation. My experience in the late 90s was that the mental health and legal professions were naive at best, dismissive at worst, about parental alienation and its devastating effects on both the child and the targeted parent. Using the experience of 40 interviewees, Dr. Baker describes the syndrome with chilling accuracy. I was particularly interested in the fact that she told the stories of the adult children, as it provided an opportunity to experience my family from my alienated child's perspective rather than my own heartbreak. I think Dr. Baker made some critical points that deserve books of their own: the risk that the alienated child will in turn become manipulative, the higher risk of adult depresssion, the never-ending nature of the targeted parent's grief, and others. The book offers practical suggestions for both the professionals that see PAS (or should see PAS, but don't know what it looks like) and for the victims. This book has earned a place in my permanent library and ought to be required reading for every family practice attorney, family court judge, MFC, LCSW, child psychologist, and family court special master. As a follow-up volume, I'd like to see Dr. Baker address the long-term experience of those she DIDN'T interview: What happens to the adult children who stay alienated?

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Hoping Dad, May 23, 2007

By 

Frustrated in Pittsburgh (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties That Bind (Norton Professional Book) (Hardcover)

As a targeted father, I have been waiting for a book like this to be published for the past 5 years. Amy Baker writes about MY life and the frustration I feel at being victimized by an alienating ex-wife that the court system not only refuses to sanction but empowers through its lack of understanding of this syndrome. Amy Baker has described the behaviors that my son exhibits as though she is living inside my home. Through Dr. Baker's astute insight, I am reminded to stay in the struggle, as hard as it is at times, and to give my son unconditional love and understanding, especially when he is least deserving of it, for he is the real victim! Books like Dr. Baker's give hope that one day this syndrome will be understood well enough to be dealt with approriately in the court system so as to insure that all children have the right to a relationship with both parents. For if they don't,the results as indicated in Dr. Baker's book, are tragic. Thank you for giving words to such a big part of my life that is absolutely indescribable!

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baker provides in clear language research based understanding of PAS, April 11, 2008

By 

Robert M. Gordon, Ph.D. (allentown, pa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties That Bind (Norton Professional Book) (Hardcover)

There are many articles stating PAS does not exist. None based on research, but advocacy. Yet, as a forensic psychologist, when I go to court, many times I cannot mention the term "Parental Alienation Syndrome" without an objection claiming that it is an "unproven" term. Or, if PAS is accepted, then there is the assertion that the so called Target parent helped to provoke the PAS. I asked forensic psychologists (most of whom did not support Dr. Gardner's views on PAS) to provide MMPI-2s from child custody evaluations, some with PAS some without (controls). I collected 158 MMPI-2s. I asked two professors (Drs. Stoffey and Bottinelli) work on the data coding and statistical analyses. They had no idea of the hypotheses. What we found was that both father and mother alienators were alike in using primitive defenses. Target parents MMPI-2s were the same as the controls.
We relied on Bakers research to guide us. We quoted her heavily. She is an outstanding scientist and has contributed to helping children and their targeted parents. Her book will aid researchers and the courts alike. Our study can be viewed at mmpi-info.com An Expert Look at Love, Intimacy and Personal Growth