Editing Undue influence (section)

== Tactics ==
{{See also|Manipulation (psychology)|Coercion|Gaslighting}}
A person seeking to exert undue influence on another person usually does so by leveraging their position of apparent authority.<ref name=":0" /> Some of these tactics include:
*Isolating the victim from their family and support system. Influencers often restrict access to their victim and maintain physical control. Supervising visits, refusing visitation, and denying requests to speak to the victim are indicative of undue influence. If the victim requires medical care or has an appointment the influencer is unable to attend, they will often change or cancel the appointment.
* Controlling their victims through sleep deprivation, [[overmedication]], or refusal to administer drugs such as [[naloxone]], [[Analgesic|pain medication]], etc.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-19|title=What Is Undue Influence in Elder Law Cases?|url=https://loewlawgroup.com/2020/03/19/what-is-undue-influence-in-elder-law-cases/|access-date=2021-12-14|website=Loew Law Group|language=en-US}}</ref>
*Moving into the victims' home, changes in victim's spending habits, unexplained purchases, and/or using victims' credit cards.
* Controlling the flow of information to manipulate the victim and their view of the world.<ref name=":7" /> Limiting the free flow of information enables the influencer to distort the truth.<ref name=":7" /> This allows the influencer to portray a false narrative to their victim which helps them facilitate their manipulation.<ref name=":7" /> This often includes restricting access to the victims' phone, not answering phone calls, responding to texts, using the victims' computer, and not allowing people to visit. If visitation does occur, the influencer is often nearby and will attempt to govern the interaction.
* Emotional manipulation is often leveraged. Influencers tend to occupy a position to access their victim's medical records and other sensitive information. This helps them prey on their victim's emotions such as anxiety, depression, grief, fear, regret, humiliation, isolation, and loneliness.<ref name=":0" />
* Relationship poisoning is a process by which a person instills thoughts and beliefs in their victim causing them to distrust third-parties.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Relationship Poisoning {{!}} iraturkat.com|url=https://iraturkat.com/relationship-poisoning/|access-date=2021-12-31|language=en-US}}</ref> Statements such as - "Your children aren't even around", "I'm the only one that's here for you, nobody else cares" or, "your friends are only coming around because they want to take advantage of you", are examples of relationship poisoning.<ref name=":12" /> These tactics are used to manipulate and isolate the victim while increasing their dependence on the perpetrator.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":2" />
* Encouraging dependency — victims often find themselves dependent on the influencer for transportation, food, hydration, and medication. The influencer will often make threats to the victim to increase their dependency such as: "if I wasn't here, you'd be put into a nursing home".<ref name=":12" />
* Posturing as advocates and protectors of the victim to make onlookers less distrustful. An influencer will often act as though they are genuine advocates for the victim and maintain a superficial appearance of friendliness and care. However, when alone with the victim, perpetrators tend to neglect providing care such as personal hygiene, nutrition, hydration, medicine, and other basic needs.
* Actively involving themselves in finances and financial instruments of the victim.<ref name=":7" /> An influencer will often initiate changes in financial documents. This may include directly or indirectly arranging for attorney's to alter estate documents.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":7" /> Perpetrators may attempt to become beneficiaries on brokerage and/or retirement accounts. Influencers tend to assist in securing legal documents such as competency letters and/or [[Power of attorney|powers of attorney]].<ref name=":7" />
*Encouraging the victim to make rushed decisions at inappropriate times, such as changes to important documents while distressed( e.g. in the hospital or the same day as doctor visits and/or medical treatments).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-04-28|title=The Basics of Proving Undue Influence in a Court Case|url=https://www.hackardlaw.com/the-basics-of-proving-undue-influence-in-a-court-case/|access-date=2021-12-14|website=Hackard Law|language=en-US}}</ref>