Psychopathological Responses to Threatened Custody Loss

Abstract

Real or threatened custody loss almost always sets in motion an array of strong psychological forces in parents. These forces principally revolve around the parents’ fantasies of themselves, both as spouses and as parents. So deep and so strongly held are these fantasies that their threatened loss frequently precipitates acting out and regressive behavior. Often one or both of the parents may appear to be almost psychotic, when previously they were functioning quite well. Children are drawn into this maelstrom, often siding with one or the other parent in a very pathological fashion. Examples of regressive behavior as well as case examples are given.