- The
first form of undue influence is as a type of coercion - that is, if
the victim could discuss his feelings, he would say, "this is
not my wish, but I must do it" [a definition taken from the classic
legal case "Wingrove v. Wingrove," 11 Prob. Div. 81 (U.K.
1885)].
- The second
form of undue influence is “false goodwill” (or "covert
coercion") – that is, the betrayal of a trusting relationship.
This takes two forms: 1) portraying unintended benevolence by the
perpetrator; and 2) generating undeserved goodwill from the
victim. "False goodwill" is a
more insidious, and more common, type of undue influence.
In fact, one of the ancient
names for undue influence translates as
"Theft of Knowledge" and "Theft of Intimacy" – reflecting the
combination of deception and betrayal that characterizes this type of
manipulation.
