What is PAS?
Parental alienation syndrome occurs when a parent emotionally manipulates a child into turning against his or her other parent, in the absence of abuse or neglect.
Dr. Amy J. L. Baker's book, "Adult children of parental alienation syndrome: Breaking the ties that bind (W.W. Norton, April 2007) is based on research interviews with 40 adults who has this experience as children. The book provides the first glimpse into this phenomenon from the perspective of those who have lived it.
The book describes PAS as a form of emotional abuse, explains the strategies that alienating parents use, compares alienating parents to cult leaders, identifies eleven catalysts that can trigger the realization that one has been a child victim of PAS, and describes the long-term effects of PAS.
The book is written for targeted parents, adult children of parental alienation syndrome, and the mental health and legal professionals working with these populations. Dr. Baker is a researcher and developmental psychologist with expertise in parent-child relationships, child welfare, and parental alienation syndrome. She is the author of several books and over 50 scholarly articles.
Television Appearances
Dr. Amy J.L. Baker speaks about PAS
on Good Morning America
- CNN Newsroom (November 5, 2011)
- NBC 4.2, Chuck Scarborough (April 15, 2011)
- HLN, Joy Behar Show (February, 2011)
- WABC channel 7 Good Morning America (December 24, 2009)
- WABC channel 7, Viewpoint New York, (October 18, 2009)
- WPIX channel 11, Help Me Howard Tips segment (October 2, 2009)
- The Agenda with Steve Paikin TVO (June 12, 2009)
- One-on-One with Steve Adubato Channel CN8 (May 2, 2008)
Print
New York Times Coverage
Dr. Amy J.L. Baker speaks about PAS on WABC TV
- September 23, 2007 New York Times article focusing on Dr. Baker's research on Adult children of parental alienation syndrome.
Dr. Baker has also been quoted in
- New England Psychologist (March, 2011)
- Associated Press (October, 2010)
- Citylife Magazine (January, 2010)
- U.S. News and World Report (October, 2009)
- The Daily News (June, 2009)
- Social Work Today (November, 2008)
- Balance Magazine (Fall, 2008)
- San Antonio Express-News (April, 2007)
Peer-Reviewed Articles by Amy J.L. Baker, Ph.D. on PAS
- Baker, A.J.L., Burkhard, B., & Kelly, J. (in press). Differentiating alienated from not alienated children: A Pilot Study. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage.
- Baker, A.J.L. (in press). Alienation research and the Daubert standards. In International handbook on parental alienation, 2nd edition.
- Baker, A.J.L. & BenAmi, N. (in press). To turn a child against a parent is to turn a child against himself. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage.
- BenAmi, N. & Baker, A.J.L. (in press). The long-term correlates of childhood exposure to parental alienation on adult self-sufficiency and well-being. American Journal of Family Therapy.
- Baker, A.J.L. (in press). Resisting the pressure to choose between parents: A school-based program. Cultic Studies Journal.
- Baker, A. J.L. (2010). Parental alienation: A special case of parental rejection. Parental Acceptance, 4(3), 4-5.
- Baker, A.J.L. & Ben Ami, N. (2011). Adult recall of childhood psychological maltreatment in adult children of divorce: Prevalence and associations with outcomes. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 52(4), 203-219. DOI: 10.1080/10502556.2011.556973
- Baker, A.J.L. & Chambers, J. (2011). Adult recall of childhood exposure to parental conflict: Unpacking the black box of parental alienation. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 52(1), 55-76. DOI: 10.1080/10502556.2011.534396
- Bernet, W., Boch-Galhau, W.V., Baker, A.J.L., & Morrison, S. (2010). Parental Alienation, DSM-V, and ICD-11. American Journal of Family Therapy, 38, 76-187. DOI: 10.1080/01926180903586583
- Baker, A.J.L. (2010). Even when you win you lose: Targeted parents' perceptions of their attorneys. American Journal of Family Therapy, 38(1), 1-18. DOI: 10.1080/01926187.2010.493429
- Baker, A.J.L. (2010). Adult recall of parental alienation in a community sample: Prevalence and associations with psychological maltreatment. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 51, 1-20. DOI: 10.1080/10502550903423206
- Baker, A.J.L. & Andre, K. (2008). Working with alienated children and their targeted parents: Suggestions for sound practices for mental health professionals. Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association, 11, 10-17.
- Baker, A.J.L.,& Darnall, D. (2007). A construct study of the eight symptoms of severe parental alienation syndrome: A survey of parental experiences. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 47, 1, 5-75.
- Baker, A.J.L. (2007). Knowledge and attitudes about the parental alienation syndrome: A survey of custody evaluators. American Journal of Family Therapy. 35(1), 1-20.
- Baker, A.J.L. (2006). The power of stories: Stories about power: Why therapists and clients should read stories about the parental alienation syndrome. American Journal of Family Therapy, 34(3), 191-203.
- Baker, A.J.L., & Darnall, D. (2006). Behaviors and strategies of parental alienation: A survey of parental experiences. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 45 (1/2), 97-124.
- Baker A.J.L. (2005). Parent alienation strategies: A qualitative study of adults who experienced parental alienation as a child. American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 23(4), 43-62.
- Baker, A.J.L. (2006). Patterns of parental alienation: A qualitative research study. American Journal of Family Therapy, 34 (1), 63-78.
- Baker, A.J.L. (2005). The long-term effects of parental alienation on adult children: A qualitative research study. American Journal of Family Therapy, 33(4), 289-302.
- Baker, A.J.L. (2005). The cult of parenthood: A Qualitative study of parental alienation. Cultic Studies Review, volume 4, no.1.