Richard Gardner (psychiatrist)

Richard Gardner was an American psychiatrist known for his work in child psychiatry and his controversial theory of "Parental Alienation Syndrome" (PAS), which describes a situation where a child becomes estranged from one parent due to the other parent's influence. Gardner believed that in high-conflict custody disputes, one parent might undermine the child's relationship with the other parent, leading to emotional and psychological issues for the child. His ideas have sparked significant debate and criticism, particularly regarding their application in legal contexts and their impact on child welfare in custody cases.