Parentification, infantilization, and adultification: How might they impact a family law case?

Abstract

Children may be the recipients of a quiet tsunami of well-intended, but nonetheless inappropriate expectations cast upon them. The parent who uses a child as a shield is manifesting high levels of dependency and emotional immaturity. Without an intervention to move out of the parentified position, the child becomes enmeshed in their parents’ battle; absent understanding, the other parent may lose their relationship with the child. Attorneys, evaluators, children’s advocates, and judges must use child custody evaluations and their own observations in assessing whether a party to a case has engaged in parentification, infantilization and adultification. (from Conclusion)

Description

Expert analysis

Keywords

family law, divorce case, legal custody, expert opinion, Child Protective Services (CPS), Parent child relationship, parentification, childhood, family litigation, infantilization, adultification

Citation

Reiter, E., Pollack, D., & Siegel, J. (2023, July 26). Parentification, infantilization, and adultification: How might they impact a family law case? New York Law Journal. https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2023/07/26/parentification-infantilization-and-adultification-how-might-they-impact-a-family-law-case/?slreturn=20230628093926