Blackmail is illegal. It is illegal because it is a form of extortion. Extortion intends to gain something from someone through threats of violence, loss of reputation, or some other form of harm. Typically, what the blackmailer wants to gain is money, power, or prestige.

Blackmail uses coercion, threats, bullying—forms of control meant to force someone to do something. Emotional blackmail is the same. A person uses emotional coercion to force another person, with whom he is in a significant relationship, to do, say, think, feel, or believe something. But because it is emotional and involves loved ones, it can be much harder to detect.

Emotional blackmail is manipulation; it is meant to obligate someone to give someone else what they want—or else. The “or else” there is often guilt. I should do it, think it, believe it, feel it, or say it,........

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