Parental alienation is described by family law expert Ana Zélia Cavalcante as an abusive and illegal practice that undermines the relationship between a child and one of their parents. This behavior involves damaging the image of one parent in front of the child, aiming to sever emotional ties and erase shared memories. Cavalcante emphasizes that such actions can be so severe that they may even be classified as a crime under certain circumstances.

The phenomenon occurs when one parent, guardian, or caretaker disparages the other parent, often through direct insults or more subtle comments that raise doubts about the other's character and responsibilities. For instance, remarks like "your mother is crazy" or "your father doesn't care about you" can constitute parental alienation if contextual elements support the narrative of harm against the other parent, potentially leading to legal consequences.

Cavalcante highlights that parental alienation not only affects the targeted parent but has profound psychological impacts on the child, leading to confusion, fear, and distorted perceptions about parental roles. Understanding this issue is crucial for both legal practitioners and families, as addressing parental alienation requires careful intervention and awareness of its long-lasting effects.