The American Psychological Association
Official Statement on Parental Alienation Syndrome From The American Psychological Association
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The American Psychological Association (APA) believes that all mental health practitioners as well as law enforcement officials and the courts must take any reports of domestic violence in divorce and child custody cases seriously. An APA 1996 Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family noted the lack of data to support so-called “parental alienation syndrome”, and raised concern about the term’s use. However, we have no official position on the purported syndrome.
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students.
I firmly believe that as soon as they come up with a pill for PAS they will immediately add it to the DSM and immediately begin drugging everyone involved.
Ken Maddox
Ken,
I agree with your comment regarding the APA’s membership including students. I know this for a fact, because my ex wife, who is going for her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling, has been a member of the APA since 2005, when she became a student.
I think that it is preposterous that professional organizations allow students to become members before they obtain degrees, certificates or licenses. In my humble opinion it dilutes the integrity of such an organization. I would hope that the American Bar Association, the American Medical Association and the American Dental Association, to name a few, do not accept students as their members. I would also think that this constitutes some kind of a fraud to the general public when these organizations speak publically with a sense of authority and a large percentage of their membership is either students or teaching professionals - not practicing professionals.
Again, just my humble opinion.
Nick
They have “student memberships” for students and “professional memberships” for professionals.
1996 is pretty old for an APA quote. why don’t you see if there’s anything more recent?