07/26/2025
Though deeply damaging to members, institutional betrayal is rarely acknowledged. So why is it ignored, continues to go unchallenged, and what tactics are used to maintain the silence?
DARVO Tactics:
Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender
Simply put, this is a well-worn tactic used by organizations to silence critics, where the silence perpetuates harm to their members and discourages others from speaking out.
If you're scratching your head wondering, "Why would organizations want to do this to their members?" here are only a few reasons.
*Organizations fear reputational damage and legal consequences so they need the tactics for self-preservation.
*We're made to believe that members who are injured and harmed lack the power to demand accountability from their organizations, so power dynamics are hard at work.
*From day one we're taught to trust our organizations, not question them, so our cultural norms stay well in place.
And when those norms are challenged, DARVO steps in to keep the silence intact.
