The Psychological Parent Concept in Contested Custody Cases

Abstract

The identification of the psychological parent in contested custody cases is often regarded as the primary factor in determining which parent is awarded custody of the children. It is the author's contention that the psychological parent entity is a complex one whose components are conceptualized into psychologically fit and psychologically unfit categories. Although both fit and unfit psychological parents are caretakers who have a profound impact upon their children, the consequences of a child being placed with a fit parent are quite different than the ramifications of the child's placement with a psychologically unfit parent. The latter relationship is maladaptive, while the former relationship is essentially an adaptive one from the child's perspective. In contested custody cases, other guidelines should be considered along with the psychological parent entity.