The Eight Cardinal Symptoms of Parental Alienation Syndrome (Gardner, 1998)

1) A campaign of denigration
The child is obsessed with the "hatred" of the target parent. The child speaks of the hated parent with every vilification and profanity in their vocabulary. The vilification has the rehearsed quality of a litany. The denigration includes not just the negativity of the other parent (AIP), but also the child's own contributions. The denigration may or may not include false sex-abuse allegations.

2) Weak, Frivolous, and absurd rationalisations for the deprecation
The child justifies and rationalises the rejection of the TP with weak and ludicrous explanations. The child may also try to justify the hatred and alienation of the TP with old memories of minor altercations with the alienated parent. When PAS children are pressed to provide more detailed explanations for the rejection, they are unable to do so.

3) Lack of ambivalence
The PAS child exhibits a complete lack of ambivalence. Whereas all relationships are ambivalent - that is characterised by mixed feelings and the ability to see good and bad points in other people, the PAS abused child views the hated parent (TP) as all bad and the loved parent (AIP) as all good. The AIP is often idealised and can do no wrong.

4) The "independent-thinker" phenomenon
The PAS child will profoundly insist that their decision to reject the TP is their own and that they have not been influenced by the AIP. This is often coupled with the AIP stating that the child's decision to reject the TP is the child's own.

5) Reflexive support of the alienating parent
The PAS child automatically takes the position of the AIP. Even when the parents are seen together in joint sessions/family conference and the child is presented with firm evidence that supports the vilified parents (TP) position, the PAS child will refuse to accept the proof and may not even give the TP the opportunity to present his side of the argument.

6) Absence of guilt over cruelty towards the alienated parent
The PAS child will usually not exhibit any guilt or remorse for the rejection of or cruelty towards the TP. The child will often show no gratitude towards the TP for gifts, financial support or reciprocate expressions of affection from the TP.

7) Borrowed scenarios
There is a rehearsed quality to the child's litany - the child will use phrases and terms not commonly used by children of that age. The child will repeat expressions identical to those used by the AIP. The child may also cite events or behave as if they were hurt or injured during a conflict at which they were not present.

8) Spread of animosity to the extended family and friends of the alienated parent
The PAS child's hatred or rejection of the TP will often spread to include that parent's extended family and friends. Grandparents, uncles, aunties, cousins and even siblings with who the child had a loving relationship will now be viewed obnoxiously and the child will refuse to associate with them.