RESEARCH_FILE
Jennifer J. Freyd
University of Oregon
Known for:Betrayal trauma theory, institutional betrayal, and the DARVO framework
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“Maybe I misremembered it”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“I may be doubting this because it got pushed back on, not because it never happened.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Open a note or paper and write five concrete details from the incident: date or day, place, exact phrase you remember, who was present, and what felt off. Save it without rewriting.
Key findings
- 1996
Proposed betrayal trauma theory: dependence on a betraying person or system motivates the mind to stay unaware of the betrayal, in order to preserve a needed relationship. Betrayal Trauma: The Logic of Forgetting Childhood Abuse ↗
- 2014
Co-authored the formalization of 'institutional betrayal' as harm an institution causes by failing to prevent or supportively respond to wrongdoing — separate from and compounding the original harm. Institutional Betrayal ↗
- 2017
Co-authored the first empirical test of DARVO, finding about 72% of confronted wrongdoers denied, attacked, and reversed victim and offender roles together, and that heavier use predicted more self-blame in the confronter. Perpetrator Responses to Victim Confrontation: DARVO and Victim Self-Blame ↗