The established meaning of this term within the legal system refers to a situation where one person exploits a position of power or trust to coerce another into making decisions against their own free will. This most commonly occurs in scenarios involving wills, contracts, and other legally binding agreements. For instance, a caregiver who isolates an elderly individual from their family and pressures them into altering their will to the caregiver’s benefit could be considered to have exerted this inappropriate control.
Understanding the specific interpretation of this concept is crucial for protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and ensuring the validity of legal documents. Its application helps maintain fairness and prevent abuse within relationships of dependency or authority. Historically, courts have recognized the potential for misuse of power dynamics, developing criteria to identify and rectify situations where genuine autonomy is compromised.
