New York State Private Investigator Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

Coercion is defined as the practice of persuading someone to do something by using threats or force. The correct choice accurately reflects this concept by highlighting that coercion involves inducing an individual to act contrary to their wishes or preferences through the use of intimidation or threats. This definition encapsulates the essence of coercion, which operates on the principle that a person's voluntary decision-making ability is compromised due to fear or duress.

The other options present scenarios that do not exemplify coercion. Offering an incentive is related to motivation and voluntary engagement rather than force, and encouraging lawful activities does not involve any element of pressure or threat. Meanwhile, forcing someone to witness a crime may imply an act of aggression but does not specifically embody the broader definition of coercion, which centers primarily on the involuntary nature of the action as a result of threats.