Interpersonal

DARVO

What it is

Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender — a reaction pattern used by those accused of wrongdoing to deflect accountability.

How it works

When confronted with their harmful behavior, the perpetrator first denies any wrongdoing, then attacks the credibility or motives of the person raising the concern, and finally repositions themselves as the true victim. This sequence disorients the accuser and often results in the original issue going unaddressed.

Real-world examples

  • •An employee accused of harassment denies everything, accuses the reporter of having a grudge, and claims their reputation is being destroyed.
  • •A partner caught lying says it never happened, accuses the other person of being paranoid, and then cries about how hurtful the accusation is.
  • •A public figure facing allegations launches a media campaign framing themselves as the target of a witch hunt.

Ethical guidelines

  • ●Accountability requires honest engagement with criticism, not reflexive reversal.
  • ●Never weaponize victimhood to silence legitimate concerns.
  • ●Organizations should train personnel to recognize DARVO so it does not derail investigations.

How to defend against it

  • ►Learn the DARVO pattern so you can name it when you see it: Deny, Attack, Reverse.
  • ►Keep written records of incidents so the denial stage is harder to sustain.
  • ►Stay focused on the original issue and refuse to accept the role of offender.

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