Lesson 2 – Coercion and Its Risks

Coercion occurs when parties feel compelled to agree due to mediator pressure rather than voluntary choice.

This pressure may be explicit or implicit, intentional or unintentional.

Examples include emphasizing mediator authority, overstating risks, or suggesting that settlement is expected.

Even well-intentioned efforts to help parties resolve disputes can undermine voluntariness.

Understanding how coercion manifests allows mediators to recognize and correct problematic behavior before ethical boundaries are crossed.