Editing Undue influence (section)

== Susceptibility ==
Some factors have been identified that increase the likelihood of a person being susceptible to manipulation. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to:

* Age – Much like traditional scams, the elderly are especially susceptible to undue influence.<ref name=":1" />
* Isolation – Family conflict, living alone, no living relatives or physical factors such as distance or difficulties with communication.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|title=Undue Influence: Everything You Need to Know|url=https://www.upcounsel.com/undue-influence|access-date=2021-12-14|website=UpCounsel|language=en}}</ref>
* Terminal diagnosis – Being diagnosed with a terminal illness such as [[cancer]] typically causes the victim to experience [[Stress (biology)|stress]] and [[Psychological trauma|trauma]] which increases their susceptibility.<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-12-17|title=Psychological Stress and Cancer - National Cancer Institute|url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings/stress-fact-sheet|access-date=2021-12-10|website=www.cancer.gov|language=en}}</ref>
* Depression – The effects of [[Depression (mood)|depression]] are pernicious and contribute to a person becoming predisposed to undue influence.
* Dependency – When a victim is dependent upon the influencer for companionship, transportation, housekeeping, food, hydration, medicine, etc.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Herrmann |first1=Nathan |title=Susceptibility to Undue Influence: The Role of the Medical Expert in Estate Litigation |journal=Canadian Journal of Psychiatry |date=June 1, 2021 |volume=67 |issue=1 |page=3 |doi=10.1177/07067437211020616 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352036709_Susceptibility_to_Undue_Influence_The_Role_of_the_Medical_Expert_in_Estate_Litigation_Susceptibilite_a_une_Influence_Indue_Le_Role_de_L'expert_Medical_Dans_un_Litige_Successoral#:~:text=Physical%20function,perform%20activities%20of |access-date=31 October 2025|pmc=8808001 }}</ref>
* Diminished mental capacity – Mental function declines, particularly as a result of aging. A person having difficulty thinking clearly may look to another to think things through for them.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|date=1985|editor-last=Turkat|editor-first=Ira Daniel|title=Behavioral Case Formulation|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3644-8|doi=10.1007/978-1-4899-3644-8|isbn=978-1-4899-3646-2 }}</ref>
*Substance use – Illicit drugs, alcohol, or prescribed medication may alter a person's judgment. Drugs can also cause addiction, and the influencer may leverage the addiction to control the person. The influencer may refuse to give the addicted person their pain medication unless the victim does things for the influencer they wouldn't normally do.
*Recent bereavement – The death of a family member such as a spouse or child.