Zwang

Zwang is a German noun that denotes force, coercion, or constraint. It can refer to physical pressure, psychological pressure, or social pressure that compels a person to act in a certain way. The word derives from Old High German zwang, related to zwing-, and is cognate with similar terms in other Germanic languages.

In everyday language, it is used to describe acting under duress or to describe a situation characterized by compulsion, such as unter Zwang etwas tun or Zwangslage (a situation of pressure or duress).

In psychology and psychiatry, Zwang describes compulsive phenomena. Zwangsgedanken (obsessive thoughts) and Zwangshandlungen (compulsive behaviors) are core features of obsessive-compulsive phenomena. The clinical term Zwangsstörung corresponds to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in English. Symptoms are repetitive and intrusive, often driven by distress, and treatment typically involves cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention, sometimes combined with medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

In legal and social contexts, Zwang denotes coercive power or influence, such as the use of coercive measures by authorities or the requirement to obey rules. Related terms include Zwangsmittel (coercive measures) and Zwangsarbeit (forced labor) or Zwangsheirat (forced marriage) when coercion is applied to persons.