What does forcible compulsion refer to?

Forcible compulsion is defined as the use of threats or intimidation that instills a fear of harm in a person, which can lead to an involuntary compliance with the demands of another. This concept is central to various criminal offenses, particularly those involving sexual assault or coercion, as it involves the use of intimidation to override an individual's ability to give free and voluntary consent. The essence of forcible compulsion lies in the victim's perception of a credible threat of harm, which diminishes their ability to refuse or resist the actions being imposed on them.

The other options do not accurately capture the legal definition of forcible compulsion. Physical force that is not significant enough does not meet the threshold necessary for coercion under the law. Substance use with consent would imply that the victim is still able to give consent, thus not fitting the definition. Lastly, verbal coercion alone does not encompass the full scope of forcible compulsion, which emphasizes the impact of threats of harm, not just the act of verbal coercion without the accompanying fear factor.