the-recursive-claim/appendix-c_alignment-darvo-gaslighting.md

Appendix C: Alignment Mapping to DARVO, Gaslighting, and Manipulation Techniques

This appendix maps the Recursive Linguistic Forensics methodology to established psychological manipulation frameworks.
It demonstrates how the recursive collapse of coherence often parallels the structural dynamics of abuse and deception.

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Mapping Table: Recursive Patterns → Manipulative Techniques

Recursive Pattern	Manipulation Technique	Description
Narrative Overcontrol	Gaslighting	Overdefined, rehearsed stories pressure the listener into doubting inconsistencies that should be obvious.
Denial Looping	DARVO (Deny)	Repetitive use of “I never” or “always” to suppress ambiguity and preempt questioning.
Claimant Displacement	DARVO (Reverse Victim/Offender)	Shifting blame or agency onto external forces to obscure personal accountability.
Temporal Drift	Reality Distortion	Manipulation of timelines to create confusion, plausible deniability, or false narratives.
Empathic Bypass	Emotional Negation	Suppression or redirection of affect to bypass expected emotional responses.
Overjustification	Justification Spiral	Excessive detail and reasoning used to camouflage falsehoods or manipulate plausibility.
Fractured Resonance	Coherence Collapse	Speech lacks internal harmony; rhythm and tone contradict content, revealing deeper incongruence.

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Notes on Use

This mapping allows analysts and adjusters to:

• Recognize when a claim narrative echoes abusive communication patterns
• Avoid retraumatizing genuine victims misflagged by behavioral AI
• Support trauma-informed verification practices

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"To detect the lie is to hear what it silences. To witness deception is to feel the fracture it tries to hide."

This alignment underscores the moral weight of our framework.
We are not just identifying fraud. We are witnessing distortion in its linguistic birth.