Parental Alienation - How does it occur?

How Does Alienation Occur?
The alienating parent may use a number of techniques, including but not limited to:

• Encouraging the child to pretend the other parent doesn't exist. This can range from not allowing the child to mention the other parent's name to refusing to acknowledge that the child has fun with the other parent.
• Leading the child to believe it is his or her choice as to whether or not to spend time with the other parent.
• Attacking the other parent's character or lifestyle, such as job, living arrangements, planned activities with the child, clothing and friends (particularly new romantic partners).
• Putting the child in the middle, by encouraging the child to spy on the other parent or take messages back and forth.
• Emphasizing the other parent's flaws, such as an occasional burst of temper or not being prepared for the child's activities. Normal parental lapses are blown out of proportion and the child is repeatedly reminded of them.
• Discussing court battles between the parents with the child, and encouraging the child to take sides.
• Making the child think there is reason to be afraid of the other parent.
• Lying about how the other parent treats the child. If this is done frequently enough, the child may begin to believe even preposterous suggestions.
• Rewriting history, such as suggesting to the child that the other parent never cared for him or her, even as an infant. The child has no memory of prior events and so can't determine whether the alienating parent is telling the truth or not.