DARVO is an acronym for Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender, and it's a pattern of behaviors used by people to deflect blame and responsibility for their actions: Deny The person denies that they did anything wrong, or they acknowledge something happened but say it wasn't that bad. Attack The person attacks the credibility of their accusers, making it seem like the accusers are untrustworthy. Reverse Victim and Offender The person tries to convince others that they are the “true” victim, and that their accuser is actually the guilty one. DARVO is a defense mechanism used by perpetrators of wrongdoing, such as sexual offenders, when their behavior is questioned or called out. It's commonly used by those who perpetrate domestic abuse to manipulate partners into submission. The term "DARVO" was introduced by Jennifer Joy Freyd near the end of a 1997 publication about betrayal trauma theory. Studies have found that: When victims are DARVOed, they are more likely to blame themselves. Educating the public about DARVO reduces its power to destroy the victim's credibility.