DARVO is a psychological manipulation strategy used by people to avoid responsibility when caught doing something wrong. It stands for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender. The concept was named in the 1990s by psychologist Jennifer Freyd.
How DARVO Works
• Deny: The person says the bad act or bad behavior never happened.
• Attack: The person attacks the person who is speaking up, often insulting them or calling them a liar.
• Reverse Victim and Offender: The person claims they are the real victim and says the person they hurt is actually the bad guy.
Common Examples
• « I never said that to you, you are making things up! »
• « You are crazy and too sensitive. You always try to start a fight. »
• « I acted badly because you forced me to do it with your bad attitude. »
If you’d like, we can talk about:
• How to spot this behavior in a relationship
• Tips to respond without taking the blame