There are lots of conversations online about DARVO. So what is it?
DARVO is a tactic abusers will use to shift the blame away from themselves.
It combines elements of gaslighting, shame and blame-shifting. DARVO stands for: Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim-Offender.
Abusers will deny the facts, attack the victim/survivor, and position themselves as the “real victim”.
They do this to maintain control by shifting the attention away from themselves, so the victim/survivor looks like the abuser.
This leads to victim/survivors:
- Not being believed
- Feeling to blame for their abusers behaviour
- Not feeling safe to seek support
It is important to understand the tactics of abuse, so we can properly recognize when it is happening and be able to support survivors without further shaming them. No survivor deserves shame.
You can learn more about the types of abuse here.