The Case Against the FJC
How official guidance misrepresents academic research on alienating behaviours
The Issue
In December 2024, the Family Justice Council published guidance on alienating behaviours that misrepresents key research evidence. This isn't just an academic dispute—it affects real families and vulnerable children across England and Wales.
Core Problem
The FJC claims research shows alienating behaviours are "relatively rare" and "rarely manifest" in children's behaviour. However, the research they cite shows the complete opposite.
What the FJC Claims
FJC Claim 1
"Research evidence suggests that Alienating Behaviours which actually impacts on the child's relationship with the other parent are relatively rare"FJC Guidance, paragraph 13
FJC Claim 2
"Research suggests that adult behaviours rarely manifestin the behaviour of children"FJC Guidance, paragraph 57
Both claims cite the same research study (Hine et al., 2024) as their source. However, the research shows the complete opposite.
The Fundamental Methodological Error
The FJC has made a basic methodological error by confusing two completely different concepts:
What the Research Actually Measured
Frequency ratings on a measurement scale - where "rarely" indicates low-frequency occurrence within cases being studied
What the FJC Claims It Means
Categorical assessment of prevalence - where "rare" suggests exceptional occurrence across a population
"When parents in the study answered 'rarely' to questions about their children's behaviours, they were confirming these behaviours do occur—not that they don't exist. 'Rarely' is still 'yes,' not 'no.'"
— From the joint response to FJC
Real-World Impact
This isn't just an academic dispute. The misrepresentation has direct consequences for vulnerable families:
Training Deficiencies
Local authorities report limited training on alienating behaviours, with one director stating it's covered "albeit not in any significant depth"
Early Intervention Lost
By framing these behaviours as "rare," the guidance undermines opportunities for early identification when intervention is most effective
Why This Matters
When official guidance misrepresents research evidence, vulnerable children suffer. The FJC's dismissive response shows they are not taking accountability seriously.