THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ALIENATED CHILDREN: When Children Reject Parents

Richard Warshak | English, 2026

This compilation of selected writings by respected scholar and author Richard Warshak will prove to be helpful to professionals and parents dealing with the issue of parental alienation.  Written in a clear, accessible style with minimal professional jargon, the fifteen chapters in this volume represent a cross-section of his seminal contributions to understanding, evaluating, preventing, and intervening in cases of parental alienation. The chapters are arranged in chronological order, offering readers a window into the evolution of Warshak’s thinking over time. A new introduction and commentary precede each chapter. In some, behind-the-scenes stories are recounted. In others, he reflects on the paper’s key contributions, its reception, or its influence on how judges, lawyers, and therapists approach the issue of parental alienation. The volume concludes with an Epilogue that distills five decades of study into insights and suggestions for the road ahead—clarifying terminology, deepening understanding of alienation, and pointing to new ways to help children and families heal. The volume will serve as a helpful resource for professionals and parents alike, especially those working to protect children from becoming the unintended casualties of their parents’ conflicts.