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
DARVO is observed in a range of settings, including intimate relationships, workplaces, schools, and institutions where
Scholars caution that not every instance of denial or counter-accusation constitutes DARVO. The term describes a
See also: gaslighting, victim blaming, abuse, power dynamics.