Final answer:
Coercion involves using threats or intimidation to control someone, undermining their autonomy and ability to make free choices. Unlike persuasion or influence, coercion relies on an imbalance of power and can occur in various contexts, including politics and research. The accurate choice from the provided options is 'coercion' (d).
Step-by-step explanation:
The situation described occurs if and only if one person intentionally uses a credible and severe threat of harm or force to control another. This is referred to as coercion. Unlike influence, which is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or manipulation, which subtly shapes someone's behavior or perceptions to one's own advantage, coercion involves using threats or intimidation to exert control. An example of coercion in a political context would be a negotiator threatening harm if a compromise isn't met, whereas persuasion involves convincing someone through reason or argument, without the use of force.
Coercion is especially concerning in contexts involving vulnerable populations or in situations where there is an imbalance of power, such as political negotiations or human subjects research. It undermines a person's autonomy by impairing their ability to give informed consent. Whether through explicit threats or through more subtle means, such as underexplaining the risks involved in a research study, coercion exerts a type of force that takes away an individual's agency and freedom of choice.