Anlockung

Anlockung is a German noun that denotes the act or process of drawing someone or something toward a target by appealing to interests, needs, or expectations. The term combines the prefix an- with locken, meaning to lure, and is used in a variety of contexts to describe deliberate attractiveness designed to coax or entice.

In marketing, Anlockung refers to techniques intended to attract customers, such as promotions, eye-catching displays, or targeted messaging. In criminology and security, the word describes lure-based tactics used to deceive or trap victims, including social engineering, baiting, or fraudulent offers. In ecology and biology, it can describe the attraction of pollinators or pests to a stimulus, such as pheromones, scents, or nectar sources. In military or strategic discussions, it may denote the deliberate baiting of an opponent to draw them into a disadvantageous position.

The term often carries normative weight depending on the context. In advertising and consumer protection, Anlockung practices may be regulated to prevent deception, while in other settings they raise ethical questions about manipulation. Related terms include Verlockung, Lockung, and Köder, as well as the English cognates lure and bait. Anlockung thus denotes a broad family of mechanisms that induce approach or engagement through attraction.