Integrating Research and Law to Protect Children in Family Court from the Effects of Parental Narcissistic Personality Disorder

26 Pages Posted: 24 Aug 2022

See all articles by Emily Labatut

Emily Labatut

Southern University Law Center

Date Written: August 20, 2022

Abstract

This Article provides resources and advice to assist professionals in understanding and recognizing Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) in family court to protect children who are victims of narcissists’ pathological parenting. It discusses the various ways children suffer from psychological abuse and emotional maltreatment and the parenting abilities of narcissists. Further, it provides criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to thoroughly explain the traits of individuals with NPD as well as how they come to light during divorce proceedings. This Article suggests changes to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Additionally, it proposes restructuring Child Protective Services to train mandated reports on the many forms of abuse and to remedy less severe cases by initially requiring families to attend therapeutic services. In more severe cases, it discusses why judges in family court should be trained in recognizing abuse and dysfunctional family dynamics to more thoroughly conduct an assessment of the child’s best interests. Lastly, this Article discusses modification of the best interest of the child standard and why child testimony is useful in high-conflict cases.

NPD is addressed in this Article as it relates to parents with NPD in high-conflict family disputes. The Author’s goal is to educate legal professionals in understanding the traits and manipulation tactics of narcissists, and how different forms of abuse are perpetrated. The Author suggests that CAPTA’s definition of child abuse and neglect must be expanded, and ratification of UNCRC is necessary to provide states with a cohesive, consistent model of how to evaluate child-custody cases.

Keywords: Narcissistic Personality Disorder; High-Conflict; Psychological Abuse; Emotional Maltreatment; Emotional Abuse; Domestic Violence; Child Abuse; Child Protective Services; Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act; Best Interest of the Child; United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; Diagn

JEL Classification: K36, I31

Suggested Citation

Labatut, Emily, Integrating Research and Law to Protect Children in Family Court from the Effects of Parental Narcissistic Personality Disorder (August 20, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4195652 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4195652

Emily Labatut (Contact Author)

Southern University Law Center

P.O. Box 9294
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
United States

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