In terms of a Psychology understanding of the Ongoing Devastation

Psychology helps us with a deeper understanding of people's actions, within relationships.   Families are constantly under the effects of the psychological tactics which imbalanced individuals utilize.. 

PARENTAL ALIENATION.  Although the mother/ex-wife carried out something way beyond parental alienation, that is the mindset where it all began.  She carried it out into the extreme by the kidnapping and hiding out for several decades.  Parental alienation is a pertinent example of the psychological theory which we can apply to the case of Karen Novacich and daughter, Michelle Novacich:
Alienated Children are not taught to empathize, Empathy Quiz, Parental Alienation & Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Moral development

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Linda Turner

Moral development focuses on the emergence, change, and understanding of morality from infancy through adulthood. In the field of moral development, morality is defined as principles for how individuals ought to treat one another, with respect to justice, others’ welfare, and rights. In order to investigate how individuals understand morality, it is essential to measure their beliefs, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors that contribute to moral understanding. The field of moral development studies the role of peers and parents in facilitating moral development, the role of conscience and values, socialization and cultural influences, empathy and altruism, and positive development. The interest in morality spans many disciplines (e.g., philosophy, economics, biology, and political science) and specializations within psychology (e.g., social,cognitive, and cultural). Moral developmental psychology research focuses on questions of origins and change in morality across the lifespan.

snipped from the website (without permission) https://parentalalienation-pas.com/category/alienated-children-are-not-taught-to-empathize/