Darvoa

Darvoa, often referred to as DARVO, is a term in psychology that describes a specific pattern of response by a person accused of wrongdoing to avoid accountability. The acronym DARVO stands for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender. It was introduced by psychologist Jennifer Freyd and colleagues in studies of abuse and betrayal.

In a DARVO sequence, the offender first denies the harm or minimizes its significance. They then attack the accuser, questioning credibility, motive, or mental health. Finally, they reverse the roles, portraying themselves as the real victim and casting the actual victim as the aggressor or liar.

DARVO is observed in a range of settings, including intimate relationships, workplaces, schools, and institutions where power differentials exist. It functions as a mechanism to deter reporting, shift blame, and protect the perpetrator’s status or reputation. Gaslighting, reframing, and strategic information control often accompany the pattern.

Scholars caution that not every instance of denial or counter-accusation constitutes DARVO. The term describes a recurrent, systematic pattern used to evade accountability, especially in contexts of inequality and abuse. Researchers emphasize careful evaluation of evidence and recognition of broader dynamics rather than assuming intent from isolated statements.

See also: gaslighting, victim blaming, abuse, power dynamics.