How does self-esteem protect a child from becoming a trafficking victim?
Studies suggest that educating and empowering potential victims will reduce their vulnerability to trafficking. According to child psychologists, a child imbued with a healthy ego is more apt to repel the manipulative tactics of a kidnapper, trafficker, ‘enslaver’, or threatening individual. At first, a slave is held captive with chains or other means of confinement. The enslaver then verbally and physically abuses his/her slave. Once a human being has lost his/her self-worth, s/he has then lost his/her sense of empowerment and may even become enamored with their captor (also known as “The Stockholm Syndrome”). Like in the case of Patti Hearst, a person can become brainwashed to feel indebted to his/her captor. This is why many prostitutes remain loyal to their pimps.
