New Study Links “DARVO” Defense Tactic to Acts of Sexual Harassment and Rape Myth Beliefs
EMBARGOED RELEASE (UNTIL DECEMBER 4, 2024 at 2 PM EST FROM THE CENTER OF INSTITUTIONAL COURAGE (institutionalcourage.org)
Contacts: Dr. Sarah Harsey and Dr. Jennifer Freyd
A landmark study published in PLOS ONE reveals a striking link between the manipulative defense tactic known as DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) with acts of sexual harassment and belief in rape myths.
Conducted by lead author Dr. Sarah Harsey, with Dr. Alexis Adams-Clark and Dr. Jennifer Freyd, the study is the first to quantify characteristics of people who use DARVO, showing that using DARVO is associated with sexual harassment perpetration and is connected to a worldview that justifies and perpetuates sexual violence.
Key Findings:
In a survey of 602 university students, researchers found a positive correlation between DARVO use and both sexual harassment perpetration and acceptance of rape myths.
A second survey of 335 community members further reinforced these findings, showing very strong correlations between DARVO, sexual harassment behavior, and rape-supportive attitudes. (Graph available upon request.)
Behavior: Using DARVO is connected to perpetrating sexual harassment.
Beliefs: Using DARVO is connected to believing in rape myths
“These findings suggest DARVO isn’t just a response; it reflects a broader perspective that condones victim-blaming and minimizes accountability,” says lead author Dr. Sarah Harsey.
Dr. Jennifer Freyd, who coined the term DARVO in the 1990s, adds, “When I first identified DARVO, it was from observing how offenders manipulate accountability. Since then, research has revealed DARVO’s power to harm victims and confuse observers. This new study looks at who uses DARVO. The research discovers that DARVO use is associated with sexually harassing behaviors and with sexist, victim-blaming attitudes.”
This research was funded with a grant from the Center for Institutional Courage, with support from the Clayman Institute at Stanford University.
The full embargoed report is available upon request.
The link to the open access peer-reviewed article will go live upon publication at 2 PM Eastern on 4 December 2024: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0313642
About the Center for Institutional Courage
The Center for Institutional Courage is a 501 501©(3) non-profit whose mission is to conduct transformative research and education about institutional betrayal and how to counter it through institutional courage. Information on the work of the Center for Institutional Courage can be found at https://www.institutionalcourage.org.
Summary of Prior DARVO research: https://www.jjfreyd.com/darvo
Citation for new study
Harsey, S., Adams-Clark, A.A. & Freyd, J. J. (2024). Associations between defensive victim-blaming responses (DARVO), rape myth acceptance, and sexual harassment. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313642
(Will be live at 2 PM Eastern on 4 December 2024.)