IDEAL was
created in the 1990's primarily for use in cases involving elder financial abuse and probate; however, it has since proven
useful in many types of cases involving excessive or inappropriate manipulation tactics. It is taught in
many countries, and is the basis for the highly successful "Undue Influence Worksheet." The factors in IDEAL are:
Isolation
Dependency
Emotional manipulation and/or Exploitation of a weakness
Acquiescence
Loss
“Isolation” – This refers
to isolation from pertinent information, friends, relatives, or usual advisors. Causes include: medical disorders; a history
of poor relationships with others; perpetrator interference; geographic changes (e.g. travel); and technological isolation
(e.g. loss of telephone services).
“Dependency”
- This refers to dependence upon the perpetrator, such as for physical support, emotional factors, or information.
“Emotional manipulation”
or “Exploitation of a weakness” - This often manifests as a combination of promises and threats regarding either
issues of safety and security, or companionship and friendship. Perpetrators sometimes make use of victim weakness or vulnerabilities.
It is not unusual to encounter cases in which, for example, a perpetrator provides alcohol to an alcoholic, or has him execute
documents despite knowing that the victim is mentally impaired due to acute or long-term effects of alcohol; having a vision-impaired
person sign a legal document; or misrepresenting documents and their consequences to the cognitively impaired.
“Acquiescence” - This
refers to the victim’s apparent consent or submission. The act is not truly voluntary, but is instead the product of
inaccurate, misleading or deceptive information that is believed due to the victim’s impairments and/or relationship
with the perpetrator.
“Loss”
- This refers to damages, such as inter vivos financial loss.
Other methods of assessing undue influence:
Watch video lectures about undue influence.
