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coercive behavior

behavior designed to force others to do one’s bidding, often masked as filial devotion or as marital or parental concern and sometimes expressed directly (e.g., “If you don’t do what I say, I’ll kill myself”).

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Psychology term of the day

March 16th 2025

surrogate

surrogate

n.

1. a person or object that substitutes for the role of an individual who has a significant position in a family or group. See father surrogate; mother surrogate.

2. more generally, any person or entity that substitutes for another.