The video discusses the different types of forces that can act on and deform the Earth's crust, including compression, tension, and shearing. Compression causes squeezing and folding of rocks to form structures like anticlines and synclines. Tension causes pulling apart and thinning of the crust to form rift valleys. Shearing causes twisting and tearing of rocks. Different rock types and environmental conditions influence whether the crust folds or faults under geological forces.