PADARVO
A variation of DARVO that adds an initial step: Provoke. The tactic unfolds as Provoke, Attack, Deny, Accuse, Reverse Victim and Offender. First, the manipulator deliberately provokes the target—through baiting, harassment, or stalking—until the target reacts. Then, when the target finally responds, the manipulator attacks that reaction, denies their own provocation, accuses the target of being the aggressor, and reverses the roles so that the original victim is framed as the offender. PADARVO is common on social media platforms where screenshots and selective reporting can easily be weaponized. It exploits the human tendency to eventually snap after sustained provocation, turning that justified frustration into “evidence” of harassment.
Example: “He spent weeks provoking her with subtle digs in public threads. When she finally told him to leave her alone, he screenshotted her reply, reported her for harassment, and played the victim. Classic PADARVO.”
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