Use of force or intimidation to enforce compliance is called what?

• A. Fear of Punishment
• B. Campaigns for Policy Change
• C. Coercion
• D. Relationships between Agencies

Answer: (C)

Coercion is using force or intimidation to make someone comply. It’s about the tactic of enforcing obedience through threats or pressure, so the person feels compelled to act even if they wouldn’t choose to otherwise. This goes beyond just fearing punishment as a motive; coercion is the actual method of enforcing compliance. For example, someone threatening harm unless a demand is met illustrates coercion. In comparison, fear of punishment describes why someone might comply, campaigns for policy change are about persuading others, and relationships between agencies refer to organizational dynamics, not to pressuring someone to comply.