An example of coercive tactics is repeatedly pressuring someone to engage in sexual activity after they have clearly said “no,” especially when the pressure feels intimidating or threatening.

What “coercive tactics” means

Coercive tactics involve using pressure, intimidation, manipulation, or threats to make someone do something against their will, undermining their ability to freely consent. These tactics often show up in contexts like relationships, sexual situations, workplaces, policing, or abuse and control.

Common examples

Some clear examples of coercive tactics include:

  • Repeatedly asking for sex after a person says “no,” and escalating pressure so it becomes intimidating or threatening.
  • Making someone feel they “owe” sexual activity and pushing them until they give in against their will.
  • Threatening consequences (ending a relationship, harming reputation, firing from a job) if the person does not comply.
  • Controlling where someone goes, who they see, or their money and basic needs to force obedience.

In multiple‑choice questions

In many quiz or homework questions that ask “Which of the following is an example of coercive tactics?”, both of these options are treated as examples:

  • Repeatedly asking someone to engage in sexual activity after they have said “no,” in a way that becomes intimidating or threatening.
  • Making a person feel like they owe someone sexual activity and applying pressure until they engage against their will.

When those two are offered as options A and B, the correct choice is usually “Both A and B,” because both describe coercive tactics.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.