Joint Custody and Happy Homes

It is possible to have two happy homes in a divorce.  Fathers have rights.  We have also come to know all about Malicious Mother Syndrome.  The status quo still prevails but must be questioned.  No mother who truly, selflessly and maturely loves her children would want to keep them from their father or tell lies about him.  It is only in immaturity (resulting often from her own abuse which stunted her emotional growth) that such behavior could be inflicted upon innocent children. 

Malicious Mother Syndrome Can Complicate Cases

Divorce is complicated enough, but what happens in some cases is that the mother turns on the father and the children, providing a number of falsehoods to promote her own case. According to Ira Daniel Turkat, PhD, this is known as Malicious Mother Syndrome.


Four major criteria encompass the syndrome. These are:

• A mother who unjustifiably punishes her divorcing or divorced husband by attempting to alienate mutual children from their father/ involving others in malicious actions against the father; engaging in excessive litigation.
• The mother specifically attempts to deny her child(ren) regular uninterrupted visitation and uninhibited telephone access with the father, and paternal participation in school life and extracurricular activities.
• The pattern is pervasive and includes malicious acts towards the husband and includes lying to the children, lying to others, and violations of the law.
• The disorder is not specifically due to another mental disorder, although a separate mental disorder may co-exist.

Is Joint Physical Custody Better for a Child?

This is a very controversial issue, because there are so many factors involved. It is commonly believed that younger children should live with mothers and that children of around the age of 12 (or older), should be given more say in their living arrangements. A few of the many factors used to decide custody arrangements after divorce are:

• Age and gender of the child
• Emotional ties between parent and child
• Emotional ties between siblings and child
• Each parent's involvement in caring for the child

Fathers' Rights – Research on Custody Rights

A study by Judith Seltzer (University of Wisconsin-Madison) showed that children were better off financially when fathers had joint legal custody. Dads, who saw their children more frequently, were more likely to comply with child support payment schedules. This is a powerful argument in favor of joint physical custody.


As for family relationships, Seltzer also concluded that joint physical custody keeps children’s lives as similar as possible to their pre-divorce situations. And, it's easier for kids, with both a mother and a father in their lives, to have good relationships with peers. Seltzer's research is consistent with fathers' rights groups and their assertion that shared custody is good for kids.

Divorced Fathers and Quality Time

Another study, at Florida State University, concludes that the duration of contact (amount of time) with a father was directly related to a child's adjustment after divorce. In other words, a child who continues to have a good relationship and spend time with his or her father will be happier, and more likely to be well adjusted, after divorce.

Do Dads Give Kids Higher IQs?

Another benefit to a child of joint custody is that children who spend time with their fathers have a higher IQ. Research at the University of Newcastle, UK, says that whether or not a dad lives with his child is not as important as whether or not a dad:

• Spends time with daughters as well as sons
• Reads with his children
• Attends organized outings, such as: Sports, Boy or Girl Scout events, dance recitals, or school field trips

The Newcastle study also contends that children with involved fathers are more likely to rise to a higher income or social class than children raised solely by their mothers. One concern regarding the Newcastle research is that it does not consider whether or not an actively-involved step father, grandfather, or uncle might also raise children’s IQs.
It is important not to read too much into studies. They only give a statistical probability of a good or bad outcome. Every child, every parent, and every family is different. Dads should talk to a divorce lawyer to get help concerning what is best for their children.

Divorce Study

The research examples above suggest that a child is more likely to have financial stability, get along with peers, and have a higher IQ in a joint custody situation. These arguments seem to make sense on an intuitive level, but each divorce entails many factors. Joint physical custody where both parents get along is the ideal. Fathers' rights groups really are onto something. Whether or not shared parenting or sole custody is optimal can only be decided on a case by case basis.