DARVO and the Dark Triad: Associations between DARVO Use and Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy

DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) is a response used by perpetrators of wrongdoing to deflect blame and responsibility (Freyd, 1997). Prior research indicates DARVO is used by perpetrators who have committed a variety of wrongdoings, ranging from less severe social transgressions to sexual assault (Harsey et al., 2017; Rosenthal & Freyd, 2022). Experiments demonstrate that DARVO can shift third-party observers’ perceptions in ways favor perpetrators and disfavor victims (Harsey & Freyd, 2020), suggesting DARVO can be an effective perpetrator manipulation tactic. The purpose of the current study was to learn more about the people who use DARVO responses. Specifically, we aimed to examine DARVO in association with the dark triad (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy). The dark triad traits are underpinned by callous manipulation (Furnham et al., 2013), which reflects the manipulative nature of DARVO responses. We hypothesized that individuals who use more DARVO during a confrontation would report higher levels of subclinical dark triad personality traits. Survey data from an online sample of 335 adults recruited on MTurk supported our predictions. Participants’ self-reported DARVO use during a past confrontation was positively correlated with their scores on narcissism (r = .462, p < .001), Machiavellianism (r = .375, p < .001), and psychopathy (r = .552, p < .001) scales. Individually, the three elements of DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) were positively correlated with narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. These findings suggest DARVO is more commonly used by individuals with antisocial interpersonal styles. Clinicians working with individuals with dark triad traits should be aware of the potential for DARVO responses from their clients. Clinicians working with clients who have been victimized by individuals with dark triad traits may find it valuable to offer clients education about DARVO to help make sense of confusing and potentially harmful perpetrator responses.