- 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.
