Jennifer Freyd
Biography
Dr. Freyd and her colleagues investigate the causes and impact of interpersonal violence and institutional betrayal on mental and physical health, behavior, and society. Freyd’s research with adult and child participants investigated predictions made by her betrayal trauma theory. In recent years Freyd has focused especially on betrayal and its antidote at the institutional level: institutional betrayal and institution courage. Current projects include studies of DARVO (Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim & Offender) and institutional betrayal and institutional courage. Freyd is the Founder and President of the nonprofit Center for Institutional Courage.
Dr. Freyd is no longer accepting new graduate students.
Selected Publications (Full Publication List):
Adams-Clark, A. A. & Freyd, J. J. (2026). Contextual Factors Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Among Campus Sexual Assault Survivors. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 1–19. Published on-line in advance of print: doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2026.2613393
Durland, M., Harsey, S., & Freyd, J.J. (2025) Assessing Perpetrator Responses to Confrontation: Associations with a DARVO-SF and Post-trauma Symptoms in Two Different Populations. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. Published online ahead of print: doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2025.2599757.
Adams-Clark, A. A., Barnes, M. L., Lind, M. N., Smidt, A. M., & Freyd, J. J. (2024). Institutional courage attenuates the association between institutional betrayal and trauma symptoms among campus sexual assault survivors, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. doi: 10.1037/tra0001812. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39636591.
Harsey, S., Adams-Clark, A.A., & Freyd, J. J. (2024). Associations between defensive victim-blaming responses (DARVO), rape myth acceptance, and sexual harassment. PLOS ONE. e0313642. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313642.
Becker-Blease, K. & Freyd, J.J. (2023). Institutionalizing Courage to Create a Safer Community. In E. Ray (Ed.), Handook of Higher Education Leadership. Oregon State University.
Smidt A.M., Adams-Clark A.A., Freyd J.J. (2023) Institutional courage buffers against institutional betrayal, protects employee health, and fosters organizational commitment following workplace sexual harassment, PLOS ONE 18(1): e0278830. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278830
Harsey, S. & Freyd, J.J. (2020). Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender (DARVO): What is the influence on perceived perpetrator and victim credibility? Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma, 29, 897-916. doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2020.1774695
Freyd, J.J. (2018). When sexual assault victims speak out, their institutions often betray them. The Conversation, 11 January 2018.
Holland, K.J., Cortina, L.M., & Freyd, J.J. (2018). Compelled Disclosure of College Sexual Assault. American Psychologist, 73(3), 256-268. doi.org/10.1037/amp0000186
Rosenthal, M.N., Smidt, A.M., & Freyd, J.J. (2016). Still second class: Sexual harassment of graduate students. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 40, 364-377.
Smith, C.P., & Freyd, J.J. (2014). Institutional Betrayal. American Psychologist, 69, 575-587.
Freyd, J.J., & Birrell, P.J. (2013). Blind to Betrayal. John Wiley & Sons.