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Understanding Children
A down-to-earth, common-sense approach to the child-parent relationship.
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
2 people want to read
About the author
Richard A. Gardner
70 books5 followersRichard Alan Gardner was an American child psychiatrist best known for his controversial work on parental alienation and child custody disputes. A prolific writer, he authored 41 books and over 200 scholarly articles, and developed therapeutic materials for child psychotherapy through his company, Creative Therapeutics. Gardner introduced the concept of parental alienation syndrome (PAS), describing how one parent could manipulate a child into rejecting the other. While his work was influential in custody cases, PAS has never been recognized by the American Psychiatric Association or other professional bodies, and has been widely criticized as lacking scientific validity and being used to dismiss legitimate abuse claims.
Gardner earned his medical degree from SUNY Downstate and trained in psychiatry at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He served in the U.S. Army as director of child psychiatry in Frankfurt, Germany, and was later a clinical professor at Columbia University for four decades. He held academic appointments in the U.S., Belgium, and Russia and was a member of several professional psychiatric and psychoanalytic associations.
Gardner’s 1990 book Sex Abuse Hysteria: Salem Witch Trials Revisited became central to his claims about false accusations in abuse cases. He frequently served as an expert witness, including in the successful appeal of Margaret Kelly Michaels. However, his work drew fierce criticism for being unscientific, gender-biased, and sympathetic toward individuals accused of abuse. Critics argued that PAS was based on anecdotal evidence and personal beliefs, not empirical research. Attempts to include PAS in the DSM-5 were rejected.
Gardner strongly denied condoning pedophilia or abuse, insisting his theories were misunderstood. He also opposed mandatory reporting laws and advocated support for those falsely accused of abuse. Despite the controversy, his legacy continues to spark debate in psychiatry, law, and child protection. He died by suicide in 2003, reportedly after suffering from a debilitating neurological pain disorder.
Gardner earned his medical degree from SUNY Downstate and trained in psychiatry at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He served in the U.S. Army as director of child psychiatry in Frankfurt, Germany, and was later a clinical professor at Columbia University for four decades. He held academic appointments in the U.S., Belgium, and Russia and was a member of several professional psychiatric and psychoanalytic associations.
Gardner’s 1990 book Sex Abuse Hysteria: Salem Witch Trials Revisited became central to his claims about false accusations in abuse cases. He frequently served as an expert witness, including in the successful appeal of Margaret Kelly Michaels. However, his work drew fierce criticism for being unscientific, gender-biased, and sympathetic toward individuals accused of abuse. Critics argued that PAS was based on anecdotal evidence and personal beliefs, not empirical research. Attempts to include PAS in the DSM-5 were rejected.
Gardner strongly denied condoning pedophilia or abuse, insisting his theories were misunderstood. He also opposed mandatory reporting laws and advocated support for those falsely accused of abuse. Despite the controversy, his legacy continues to spark debate in psychiatry, law, and child protection. He died by suicide in 2003, reportedly after suffering from a debilitating neurological pain disorder.
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