DARVO is an acronym that stands for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender.
Narcissists and those diagnosed withpersonality disordersare the ones who most often use DARVO in apsychologically abusiveway.
DARVO allows abusers to control the narrative and avoid accountability for their behavior.
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Experts in This Article
What Does DARVO Look Like?
Experts say there are specific characteristics to look for to determine ifsomeone is manipulating youin this way.
Denial
Someone adamantly denies being wrong and wont acknowledge wrong behaviors.
A person using this tactic will not only say they are not abusive but will minimize your feelings.
Attack
The accused person becomes aggressive, arguing that they are not in the wrong.
They also seek to cast doubt on you as the person who is questioning their behavior.
“Abusers attack the credibility, character, or motives of the victim.
An abuser will also likelydeflect, trying to switch gears and remove attention from the problematic behavior.
The psychology behind DARVO is rooted in a strong need for self-preservation and control.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Impact of DARVO
Abusers who use DARVO methods on their victims often achieve the intended results.
DARVO survivors also experiencepost-traumatic stress disorder.
Confront the reality of what happened and your experience.
Seek the help you oughta end the cycle of manipulative behavior andheal physically, mentally, and emotionally.
They must accept this so that break free, Dr. Lev concludes.
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