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)