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American Psychological
Association Says Breaking the Silence Misrepresents Its Position on PAS
October 24,
2005
A spokeswoman for the American Psychological
Association says that
PBS's new documentary
Breaking the Silence: Children's
Stories distorts the APA's position on Parental Alienation Syndrome.
The film criticizes PAS, which arises when one parent tries to turn his or her
children against the other parent during a divorce or separation.
In the documentary
Joan Meier, a professor of clinical law at George
Washington University and one of the film's chief spokespersons,
states that PAS "has been thoroughly debunked
by the American Psychological Association."
Connecticut Public Television,
one of the film's producers, put out a
press release
promoting the film which stated that PAS had been "discredited by the American
Psychological Association."
However, according to
Rhea K. Farberman, Executive Director of Public and Member
Communications of the American Psychological Association, these claims are
"incorrect" and "inaccurate." Farberman says that the APA
"does not have an official position on parental alienation syndrome--pro or
con." She adds:
"The
Connecticut Public Television press release is incorrect. I have notified both
Connecticut Public Television and their PR firm of the inaccuracy in their press
release."
Breaking the Silence aired on some
PBS affiliates on October 20 and will air on others in the coming weeks. The
film's central contention is that PAS is "junk science" which abusive fathers
are using to wrest custody of children away from fit mothers. The film has been
the subject of large protests
by fatherhood advocates, who claim that the film is one-sided and inaccurate.
Many fathers believe that they have been the target of parental alienation
campaigns by their children's mothers. Meier made her statement about PAS and
the APA six minutes into the show.
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