The Weaponization of Children in Coercive Control

About this episode

This episode explores the heartbreaking dynamics of coercive control, particularly the weaponization of children by predatory parents.

Description In this solo episode of Perfect Prey , I explore one of the most heartbreaking dynamics of coercive control: the weaponization of children. Children rely on their parents for safety, stability, and unconditional love. But when a predatory parent is operating within the family system, attachment can become fractured. Instead of growing up with secure connection, children are often indoctrinated into false narratives, exposed to subtle undermining, and pulled into loyalty binds they cannot cognitively or emotionally process. I explain how coercive control is the underpinning of all forms of abuse — psychological, legal, financial, physical, and emotional — and how, when an abuser can no longer control their partner, they often shift to controlling through the child. We’ll talk about: How attachment is formed — and how it can be fractured Why children may come home dysregulated, angry, or oppositional How subtle undermining and false narratives are planted The difference between alienation rhetoric and attachment fracture Why predatory parents rely on retaliation and loyalty conflicts How protective parents can create “roadblocks” to manipulation What it means to respond…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola

Topics covered

• coercive control
• weaponization of children
• attachment theory
• parenting
• post-separation abuse
• family court dynamics

Keywords

• coercive control
• children
• attachment fracture
• loyalty binds
• manipulation
• protective parents
• emotional roles

More episodes of Perfect Prey: A Coercive Control Podcast

• The Hidden Impact of Trauma Across a Lifetime with Dr. Ann Burgess · June 5, 2026 · 36 min
• Why Traumatized Children Are Often Misunderstood · May 22, 2026 · 26 min
• Why Survivors Must Be Heard to Heal with Dr. Judith Lewis Herman · May 8, 2026 · 47 min
• Greyson’s Choice: Ali Kessler’s Mission to Protect Children · April 24, 2026 · 35 min
• Children Are Not Witnesses: The Truth About Coercive Control with Emma Katz · April 10, 2026 · 43 min
• Jane Doe No More: Story of Survival and Accountability with Donna Palomba · March 27, 2026 · 37 min