The PAQ, or Parental Alienation Questionnaire, is a widely used assessment tool designed to measure the presence and extent of parental alienation. It was developed by psychologist William Bernet and consists of a series of questions that aim to assess various factors related to parental alienation.
The PAQ contains a total of 49 questions that cover different aspects of parental alienation. Some of the main categories of questions in the PAQ include:
1. Access and contact denial:
- Has the other parent denied you access to the child?
- Has the other parent made it difficult for you to see or communicate with the child?
2. Negative communication patterns:
- Does the other parent criticize or belittle you in front of the child?
- Has the other parent tried to persuade the child to reject you?
3. Alienated child's behavior:
- Has the child shown little or no interest in spending time with you?
- Does the child exhibit anger or hostility towards you?
4. Rejection of extended family:
- Does the child refuse to spend time with your relatives?
- Has the child expressed negative views or feelings towards your family members?
5. Impact on the child's emotions and attitudes:
- Has the child expressed fear or anxiety about spending time with you?
- Does the child dismiss any positive experiences or memories involving you?
6. Negative messaging:
- Has the other parent consistently portrayed you in a negative light to the child?
- Has the other parent made false accusations about you to the child?
7. Manipulation of information:
- Has the other parent withheld important information about you or your activities from the child?
- Has the other parent distorted information or events to present a biased view against you?
8. Loyalty conflicts:
- Has the child expressed feelings of guilt or disloyalty when spending time with you?
- Does the child feel pressured to choose sides between the parents?
9. Impact on the child's relationship with you:
- Has the child shown a significant decrease in affection or closeness towards you?
- Does the child avoid contact or interaction with you?
10. Psychologically controlling behaviors:
- Has the other parent engaged in excessively controlling or manipulative behaviors towards the child?
- Has the other parent used threats or punishment to discourage the child from maintaining a relationship with you?
11. Legal interference:
- Has the other parent violated court orders regarding visitation or custody arrangements?
- Has the other parent made false allegations against you in legal proceedings?
12. Isolation and barriers:
- Has the other parent discouraged or prevented extended family members from maintaining contact with the child?
- Has the other parent discouraged or prevented the child from participating in activities or events involving you or your side of the family?
13. Undue influence:
- Has the other parent attempted to influence the child's thoughts, feelings, or beliefs about you or your family?
- Has the other parent used manipulative tactics, such as bribery or rewards, to sway the child's opinion about you?
14. Emotional manipulation:
- Has the other parent consistently undermined or belittled your role or authority as a parent?
- Has the other parent made derogatory comments or engaged in name-calling when discussing you with the child?
15. Refusal and resistance:
- Has the child shown consistent resistance or refusal to spend time with you despite court-ordered visitation or custody arrangements?
- Has the child expressed fear or anxiety about spending time with you?
16. Involvement of third parties:
- Has the other parent enlisted the help of friends, relatives, or professionals to support their campaign against you?
- Has the other parent encouraged the child to align with these third parties against you?
17. Contempt and disrespect:
- Has the other parent consistently shown contempt or disrespect towards you when discussing you with the child?
- Has the other parent made derogatory comments about your appearance, character, or lifestyle in front of the child?
18. False allegations:
- Has the other parent made unfounded or exaggerated allegations against you, such as abuse or neglect?
- Has the other parent involved the child in these false allegations, asking them to provide evidence or testify against you?
19. Inconsistent or limited communication:
- Has the other parent purposefully limited or restricted communication between you and the child, such as blocking phone calls or refusing to share important information?
- Has the other parent interfered with your ability to communicate with the child during visitation or custody exchanges?
20. Emotional distance and detachment:
- Has the child displayed signs of emotional detachment or indifference towards you, despite having previously had a close relationship?
- Has the child exhibited a lack of empathy or concern for your feelings or well-being?
21. Manipulative behavior:
- Has the other parent attempted to manipulate or control the child's emotions and behaviors towards you?
- Has the other parent used guilt or shame to influence the child's perception of you?
22. Encouraging rejection:
- Has the other parent explicitly or implicitly encouraged the child to reject or refuse contact with you?
- Has the other parent discouraged the child from expressing love or positive feelings towards you?
23. Undermining authority:
- Has the other parent undermined your authority as a parent by contradicting your rules, discipline, or decisions in front of the child?
- Has the other parent encouraged the child to challenge your rules or decisions?
24. Sabotaging relationships:
- Has the other parent interfered with your attempts to spend quality time with the child, such as scheduling conflicting activities or making false claims about your availability?
- Has the other parent discouraged extended family members or friends from maintaining a relationship with you and the child?
25. Loyalty conflicts:
- Has the child expressed feelings of guilt or confusion when showing affection or spending time with you?
- Has the other parent made the child feel like they have to choose between their love for you and their loyalty to the other parent?
26. Emotional manipulation:
- Has the other parent used emotional manipulation techniques, such as gaslighting or creating a sense of fear or instability, to manipulate the child's view of you?
- Has the other parent attempted to turn the child against you by portraying you as dangerous or unreliable?
These questions cover a range of factors that can indicate the presence of parental alienation. The responses to these questions help professionals and researchers assess the level of parental alienation and its impact on the child and targeted parent.
These are just a few examples of the questions found in the PAQ. The questionnaire is typically completed by both parents separately to gain insights into their perspectives and experiences. The responses to the questions help assess the presence and severity of parental alienation in a given situation.
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