enticement

Enticement is the act of attracting or tempting someone to do something, often by offering an advantage, reward, or pleasure. It can be used in everyday speech to describe persuasion that appeals to desires rather than reason. Enticement may rely on attractive features, benefits, or social rewards to influence decision-making, and it can be ethical or manipulative depending on context, consent, and power dynamics.

In legal contexts, enticement frequently refers to attempts to persuade someone to engage in prohibited or harmful acts. For example, offences known as enticement of a minor involve luring a child or young person into sexual activity or to run away from guardianship, with penalties that reflect the vulnerability of the target. Some jurisdictions also use the term for acts of enticing another to commit crimes or to violate contractual obligations. In other areas, inducement is used to describe permissible incentives in contracts, employment, or marketing.

In economics and marketing, enticement design aims to influence consumer choice through offers, loyalty rewards, freebies, or other incentives. In employment, an inducement package can include salary, benefits, and signing bonuses intended to attract a candidate. In psychology, enticement relates to incentive motivation and reward-based learning; individuals weigh perceived benefits against costs when considering actions.

Overall, enticement captures the spectrum from benign persuasion to coercive manipulation. Applications vary by jurisdiction, culture, and context, with ethical considerations emphasizing informed consent, transparency, and respect for autonomy.