Blum Bennett MDBlum Bennett MD
Undue Influence - Basic Types
There are two basic types of undue influence:
 
  - 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. 
 
 
 
 
 
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