PAS can be concluded to exist in a person when both of the following two criteria categories have been investigated and the requirements of each category validated for any particular family situation:
Criteria 1 (Indicators of a mental disorder relating to a child’s parental relationship)
In order to validate the requirement of “Criteria 1”, at least one of the following indicators of a mental disorder or abnormality relating to the child’s relationship with another parent must be present (usually the parent but can also apply to siblings and other family members):
1) The child is indicating a fear or hatred of the targeted parent or is claiming to be harassed by attempts by the targeted parent to make contact with him or her.
2) The child has denigrated or slandered the targeted parent privately to other friends, family or publicly
3) The child has used borrowed scenarios or accusations advanced by one of the parents in Family Court proceedings.
4) The child has created a scene in public which has embarrassed, humiliated or denigrated the targeted parent with the child using untoward language or violence
5) The child has made false allegations against the targeted parent or has attempted to have the targeted parent charged criminally by police or has supported such a complaint advanced by the other parent.
6) The child is displaying a severe opposition to contact with a parent or insisting on spending less time or is resisting reasonable attempts to engage in meaningful contact with the targeted parent.
7) The child expresses guiltless disregard for the feelings of the targeted parent.
8) The child has attempted suicide or has self mutilated themselves and has indicated that it was because of the targeted parent.
9) The child has written a letter or note to the targeted parent telling the target parent that he/she does not want to see the parent or to have any further contact with the parent.
10) The child has assaulted the target parent, or spits, bites, swears or has displayed other violent opposition to contact with a parent.
Criteria 2 (Qualifying conditions applicable to the indicators listed under criteria 1)
In order to validate the requirement of Criteria 2, all of the following must be present:
1) There must be at least one person having influence over a child who is engaging in Hostile Aggressive Parenting directed against the targeted parent where the risk to the child because of HAP has been evaluated using the risk assessment protocol for HAP as being in the moderate or higher category (50 points or above).
2) The targeted parent has suffered the loss of parenting time with the child due to the interference with access to the child by another parent or family member or due to the refusal of the child to spend scheduled time with the targeted parent.
3) There would appear to be no compelling and credible evidence to support the reasons given by the child or the HAP parent to explain why the child is exhibiting one or more of the disorders listed under criteria 1. Some of the reasons given may appear to be weak, frivolous, contradictory, exaggerated or in some cases totally fabricated or an extension of another person’s thoughts or feelings.
4) There would appear to be no compelling and credible information which would indicate that the child’s relationship with the targeted parent was not considered healthy and normal up until the time that either the parents were separated or until such time as conflict between parents involving the child became an issue.
Taken from: Risk assessment protocol to evaluate the risk of harm to children caused by Hostile-Aggressive Parenting (HAP) (including recommended intervention strategies) Published by: Family Conflict Resolution Services
Criteria 1 (Indicators of a mental disorder relating to a child’s parental relationship)
In order to validate the requirement of “Criteria 1”, at least one of the following indicators of a mental disorder or abnormality relating to the child’s relationship with another parent must be present (usually the parent but can also apply to siblings and other family members):
1) The child is indicating a fear or hatred of the targeted parent or is claiming to be harassed by attempts by the targeted parent to make contact with him or her.
2) The child has denigrated or slandered the targeted parent privately to other friends, family or publicly
3) The child has used borrowed scenarios or accusations advanced by one of the parents in Family Court proceedings.
4) The child has created a scene in public which has embarrassed, humiliated or denigrated the targeted parent with the child using untoward language or violence
5) The child has made false allegations against the targeted parent or has attempted to have the targeted parent charged criminally by police or has supported such a complaint advanced by the other parent.
6) The child is displaying a severe opposition to contact with a parent or insisting on spending less time or is resisting reasonable attempts to engage in meaningful contact with the targeted parent.
7) The child expresses guiltless disregard for the feelings of the targeted parent.
8) The child has attempted suicide or has self mutilated themselves and has indicated that it was because of the targeted parent.
9) The child has written a letter or note to the targeted parent telling the target parent that he/she does not want to see the parent or to have any further contact with the parent.
10) The child has assaulted the target parent, or spits, bites, swears or has displayed other violent opposition to contact with a parent.
Criteria 2 (Qualifying conditions applicable to the indicators listed under criteria 1)
In order to validate the requirement of Criteria 2, all of the following must be present:
1) There must be at least one person having influence over a child who is engaging in Hostile Aggressive Parenting directed against the targeted parent where the risk to the child because of HAP has been evaluated using the risk assessment protocol for HAP as being in the moderate or higher category (50 points or above).
2) The targeted parent has suffered the loss of parenting time with the child due to the interference with access to the child by another parent or family member or due to the refusal of the child to spend scheduled time with the targeted parent.
3) There would appear to be no compelling and credible evidence to support the reasons given by the child or the HAP parent to explain why the child is exhibiting one or more of the disorders listed under criteria 1. Some of the reasons given may appear to be weak, frivolous, contradictory, exaggerated or in some cases totally fabricated or an extension of another person’s thoughts or feelings.
4) There would appear to be no compelling and credible information which would indicate that the child’s relationship with the targeted parent was not considered healthy and normal up until the time that either the parents were separated or until such time as conflict between parents involving the child became an issue.
Taken from: Risk assessment protocol to evaluate the risk of harm to children caused by Hostile-Aggressive Parenting (HAP) (including recommended intervention strategies) Published by: Family Conflict Resolution Services