Emotional Coercion

Weaponizing a consumer’s feelings against them to secure a sale.

Fear-Mongering

Exaggerating or fabricating threats (health, safety, social ostracization) to sell the “cure.”

Insecurity Exploitation

Actively making consumers feel ugly, inadequate, or unloved so they buy a product to “fix” themselves.

Guilt-Tripping (Confirmshaming)

Manipulating users into compliance (e.g., an opt-out button that says, “No thanks, I don’t care about my family’s safety”).

Grief Exploitation

Targeting the recently bereaved with overpriced, unnecessary funeral add-ons or administrative services.