This page describes the meaning of the word "temptation". For other possible uses of the word, see Temptation (disambiguation).

A temptation is an act that looks appealing to an individual. It is usually used to describe acts with negative connotations and as such, tends to lead a person to regret such actions, for various reasons: legal, social, psychological (including feeling guilt), health, economic, etc. Temptation also describes the coaxing or inducing a person into committing such an act, by manipulation or otherwise of curiosity, desire or fear of loss.

"Temptation" is usually used in a loose sense to describe actions which indicate a lack of self control, such as procrastination or eating junk food.

In advertising, temptation is a theme common to many of the marketing and advertising techniques used to make products more attractive for purchase by consumers.

Christian views of temptation

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In a Christian religious context, "temptation" refers to the inducement to commit an act of sin or immorality; in a strictly Biblical sense, the word means evil that is tempting, or the state of being tempted by Satan. C.S. Lewis wrote a novel The Screwtape Letters about how devils tempt humans.

Seduction

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Seduction is thus the act of one person tempting another, typically into an act of sexual immorality. Core issues in ethics | Emotion | Social psychology

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