Compulsion vs. Coercion — What's the Difference?

A behavior arising from an obsessive condition.

The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.

A psychological force that drives an individual to perform repetitive acts.

The act of dominating others by fear rather than by consent.

An action performed out of an unavoidable need.

An external pressure exerted to control someone’s actions.

An irresistible urge to behave in a certain way, especially against one's conscious wishes.

A method of achieving compliance or obedience through intimidation.

A state where choice is overtaken by an internal insistence.

Involving or using force to obtain compliance.

The action or state of forcing or being forced to do something; constraint

Coercion () is compelling a party to act in an involuntary manner by use of threats, including propaganda or force. It involves a set of various types of forceful actions that violate the free will of an individual to induce a desired response, for example: a bully demanding lunch money from a student or the student gets beaten.

An irresistible urge to behave in a certain way

The act or practice of coercing.

The act of compelling.

Power or ability to coerce.

The state of being compelled.

(uncountable) Actual or threatened force for the purpose of compelling action by another person; the act of coercing.

An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation

Use of physical or moral force to compel a person to do something, or to abstain from doing something, thereby depriving that person of the exercise of free will.

(Psychiatry) An act or ritual that a person feels compelled to perform repeatedly, often to reduce the distress caused by an obsession.

(countable) A specific instance of coercing.

An irrational need or irresistible urge to perform some action, often despite negative consequences.

Conversion of a value of one data type to a value of another data type.

The use of authority, influence, or other power to force (compel) a person or persons to act.

The process by which the meaning of a word or other linguistic element is reinterpreted to match the grammatical context.

The lawful use of violence (i.e. by the administration).

The act or process of coercing.

The act of compelling, or the state of being compelled; the act of driving or urging by force or by physical or moral constraint; subjection to force.

The application to another of either physical or moral force. When the force is physical, and cannot be resisted, then the act produced by it is a nullity, so far as concerns the party coerced. When the force is moral, then the act, though voidable, is imputable to the party doing it, unless he be so paralyzed by terror as to act convulsively. At the same time coercion is not negatived by the fact of submission under force. "Coactus volui" (I consented under compulsion) is the condition of mind which, when there is volition forced by coercion, annuls the result of such coercion.

An urge to do or say something that might be better left undone or unsaid

The act of compelling by force of authority

An irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions against your will

Using force to cause something;

Using force to cause something;

Compulsion is driven by internal urges, whereas coercion involves external pressures or threats.

Compulsions, especially those linked with mental disorders, often require professional treatment to manage.

While not always, many compulsive behaviors are associated with mental health conditions like OCD.

Examples include blackmail, threats of harm, and using one's authority to force another to comply.

Solutions might involve seeking legal help, social support, or authorities to intervene and stop the coercive behavior.

Compulsion is diagnosed by mental health professionals based on criteria that include the presence of repetitive behaviors, the distress these behaviors cause, and their impact on one's functioning.

Psychological theories such as the cognitive-behavioral model explain compulsion as a result of dysfunctional beliefs and behaviors that reinforce compulsive actions.

Yes, many jurisdictions have laws against coercion, especially in contexts like employment, legal contracts, and personal relationships to protect individuals’ rights and freedoms.

Rarely, some compulsions may lead to beneficial outcomes, such as compulsive attention to detail resulting in high-quality work, but these are exceptions rather than the rule.

Consent is key; compulsive behaviors are internally driven without external consent, while coercion involves forcing someone to act without their voluntary agreement.

Coercion can lead to stress, anxiety, and a sense of helplessness, negatively impacting an individual's mental and emotional well-being.

Strategies include enforcing strict anti-coercion policies, providing training on rights and responsibilities, establishing clear grievance procedures, and fostering an open and respectful work environment.

Signs include appearing anxious or afraid, making decisions that seem out of character, or expressing feeling trapped in their situation.

Yes, compulsion can also occur in other conditions such as addiction, eating disorders, and some personality disorders.

Yes, children are often more vulnerable to coercion due to their lesser ability to recognize or resist manipulation by adults or peers.