@samiamsam Right... it's both a conscious tactic/strategy among some folks (lawyers, PR repair folks, etc. come to mind)
But the DENIAL aspect is sometimes/often(?) due to a clinical level denial --which is an impairment.
Clinical level denial is not "just stubbornness". And I suspect that's part of what makes it become so effective.
So it does add layers of complexity that some fools doing abusive crap really don't even "get" how off base they are.
It's not an excuse.