Coercive persuasion: a form of coercion

Coercive persuasion is a mechanism present in many contexts of abuse or mistreatment.. It is present in violent couple relationships, in authoritarian families or in any type of bond that is based on the scheme of domination and submission.

This mechanism is implemented in order for the affected person accepts and prolongs the bond of abuse. Coercive persuasion uses emotions such as fear, love, guilt, shame, and rejection of loneliness to be effective.

When a dyad of abuser and victim is established, strong bonds of dependency are also forged.. One needs the other. Violence is at the essence of everything and uses multiple instruments. These range from coercive persuasion to physical violence. All of this makes up a cycle that is difficult to get out of.

Coercive persuasion

Coercive persuasion is a mechanism that operates in abusive relationships. Its function is to create in the victim the conviction that you deeply need someone who mistreats you; The abuser instills in the victim’s thoughts the idea that, despite the current suffering, it is much better to be with him than without him.

“If you’re worthless, where are you going to go??” This is a projection of disability that places the victim in a very vulnerable place.

As such, this mechanism uses a text, but is not limited to it. There are verbal attacks and the content of these has to do with the disqualification of the victim. His self-concept is attacked, his inferiority is emphasized, and his gaps and flaws are emphasized. The speech is aimed at destroying another person’s self-esteem and confidence.

However, the issue is not just words. Coercive persuasion also operates through gestures and actions. These include physical attacks, threats (veiled or not), deprivation, isolation of the victim, etc. All of this together operates as a set ofand arguments to “persuade” the other that there is no escape.

Fear in the victim

Fear is an essential instrument in the implementation of coercive persuasion. It basically takes the form of threats, even more than actual actions.. There are a whole series of warnings about the great evils to come if you break the bond with the abuser.

It occurs when, for example, an employee is subjected to sexual harassment by his or her boss. In addition to the obvious fear of losing your job, you are warned that there are no witnesses and therefore no legal action will succeed. Or you are told that no one in your environment is going to support a possible complaint, since everyone depends on the job and will not confront the boss.

The use of fear seeks to paralyze the victim’s response.. In coercive persuasion there is a kind of “unpredictable abuse”, that is, confusing and expectant for the person who is the object of it. It is precisely this state that can reduce or undermine the ability to react or act against attacks.

Affection and guilt

Affection and guilt are also emotions functional to coercive persuasion. It is not uncommon for a victim to harbor affectionate feelings toward their attacker.. Sometimes because it is her partner, her relative or her friend. Other times because it is assumed that that person has done something significantly good for you.

This affection leads to a special “understanding” in the face of aggression.. Many times they are minimized or assumed to be an exception to the rule. It is also believed that these are passing episodes. This is a form of denial that, in turn, fuels the cycle of violence, justifies dependency and becomes a support for coercive persuasion.

Guilt and shame play a similar role.. In the context of an abusive relationship, it is not uncommon for the victim to blame themselves. This gives a certain feeling of control over what happens. Likewise, it makes the attacks to which one is subjected a little more reasonable. However, it also helps paralyze the ability to react.

In addition, It is common for a victim to be ashamed of having been attacked. In one way or another, the aggressor is seen as an extension of oneself. So what you do, particularly what you do wrong, creates shame. Fear, affection, guilt and shame are the tools of coercive persuasion. Together, they perpetuate cycles of violence.

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