The term describes a situation where one party exploits a position of power over another, thereby swaying the latter’s decision to enter into an agreement. This influence impairs the influenced party’s free will and independent judgment. For example, a caregiver might unduly influence an elderly person to alter their will in the caregiver’s favor, benefiting unfairly from the relationship of trust and dependence.
The concept’s significance lies in protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation during contractual negotiations. Its application ensures that agreements are genuinely consensual, reflecting the true intentions of all parties involved. Historically, this principle has evolved through legal precedents to address subtle forms of coercion that fall short of outright duress but still compromise the validity of a contract.
