Coercers

Coercers are individuals or institutions that compel others to act in a particular way by applying coercion. Coercion is the use of threats, force, or pressure to restrict a person's freedom to choose. Unlike voluntary agreement or informed consent, actions taken under coercion are considered constrained rather than freely given.

Coercers employ a range of techniques, including direct threats of violence, economic deprivation, reputational harm, isolation, surveillance, or manipulation of information. Coercion can be overt or subtle, and it frequently relies on an perceived or real power imbalance between the coercer and the target.

Legally and ethically, coercion has significant implications. In contract law, consent obtained through duress or undue influence may be voidable. Criminal statutes often prohibit extortion, blackmail, or hostage-taking, which are forms of coercion. International relations describe coercive diplomacy, where states threaten costs to influence behavior without full-scale military force.

In psychology and sociology, coercive behavior is a focus of study in contexts such as abusive relationships or organizational power dynamics. Coercers may persist through a pattern of threats, withdrawal, and manipulation, creating long-term control over others.