gennemtvinges

Gennemtvinges is a neologism used in theoretical discussions of social influence to describe a pathway by which individuals adopt norms and beliefs. It refers to a process in which ideas are taken up as self-evident through mechanisms that resemble coercion, yet lack formal legal or institutional enforcement. The term is not widely standardized and is primarily used in interdisciplinary debates on conformity, power, and legitimacy.

Etymology and usage of the word are debated. The coinage appears in modern scholarly and critical discourse as a blended term intended to evoke both through and pressure, without implying overt coercion. Because it is a relatively new and contested term, its precise roots and boundaries vary across authors and fields.

Definition and core idea. Gennemtvinges denotes a systemic mechanism in which normative ideas become internalized through persuasive framing, social reinforcement, and the perceived legitimacy of authorities or institutions. It emphasizes how people come to align with norms not by explicit rules alone, but through everyday practices, routines, and expectations that shape private beliefs as if they were self-chosen.

Mechanisms and contexts. The process relies on factors such as media narratives, peer influence, organizational routines, identity signaling, and cognitive biases. It is discussed in analyses of education, politics, corporate culture, and public health as a way to explain how compliance and consensus can arise without formal coercion.

Criticism and debate. Some scholars warn that the concept risks overgeneralization or conflating distinct phenomena such as socialization, propaganda, and coercive power. Proponents argue that it highlights subtler forms of domination embedded in everyday life.

See also: normalization, soft power, conformity, hegemony.