March
4, 2014 By Kimberly Rae
“1. The needy.
Those who desperately need attention or affirmation are prime targets. You can
recognize these by their frequent selfies on social media, their posts and
comments always centered on themselves–even if negative–or their personal put
downs that are said in the hopes that someone will counter them. To a
trafficker prowling on FB or Snapchat, these are easy targets. They can start
sending them messages of affirmation and adoration, and the needy teen will
feed off them to the point that their feeling of self worth is totally
dependent on the trafficker.
2. The lonely.
Kids whose parents are gone most of the day, or who shuttle back and forth
between multiple families end up with a lot of time on their own. That can lead
to choosing wrong friends or unhealthy activities. A teen might get addicted to
gaming, or they might end up in a relationship online that parents don’t even
know about. A trafficker knows if they can get a teen to come to them with
their emotional needs and believe the trafficker (posing as a friend,
confidant, lover, etc.) is the only person who can meet those needs, they have
them.
3. The angry.
Kids recognize when they are given money and freedom but not parental time,
effort, and yes, boundaries. A child knows when parents are more focused on
their own problems, career, or anything else over family and are leaving kids
to emotionally fend for themselves. For some, that results in a bitterness
leading toward rebellion that a trafficker can exploit. They can start up a
relationship (again, usually online) where the teen can complain about their
parents and get lots of sympathy, which turns into the trafficker suggesting
the teen run away with offers to help them find a place, get a job. If the teen
does, the trafficker has set themselves up as the only resource to help, and
again, the power is all theirs.
4. The confident and clueless.
A feeling of invincibility mixed with naivety is a dangerous combination. These
are the kids at the mall who will accept a ride home from a stranger to impress
their friends with their hot, older new friend. These kids will take a dare
that leads them to dangerous places and relationships. They might be drawn
toward the older guy everyone is warning them against, just to prove a point,
or just because it feels powerful. All a trafficker has to do is show up and be
attractive.
A major part of the fight against trafficking is awareness.
For many, the most important awareness they can have is not what a trafficker
looks like and does, but what a potential victim looks like and does. For all
the parents out there, please take a good look at your child or children. If
they are headed in Miley’s direction, please intervene.
*******************************************
Why Her? A Visual Chart on How Traffickers Choose and
Manipulate Victims
The following chart of need was originally defined by
Abraham Maslow’s “A Theory of Human Motivation,” 1943.
Traffickers may use these needs in a recruitment process
similar to this:
1.
Identify the need of the child
2.
Fulfill the need
3.
Remove any other sources of need
fulfillment
4.
Exploit the child’s dependence for need
fulfillment by forcing them into prostitution
“It could never happen to my child”
That’s what Brianna’s parents thought too. Unfortunately,
the scary, inconvenient truth is that unless your child has reached
self-actualization and has no further needs, they could unsuspectingly
fall victim to a trafficker.
Brianna was a 17-year-old high school student, involved in
cheerleading, taking college courses for an early start on her nursing degree
and worked at a local restaurant with her sister. She had no idea that friendly
conversations she had with a regular customer could end with a trafficking ring
planning to transport her to Arizona, likely to be sold.
You are not powerless.
If you know or meet a girl who exhibits some of these signs,
don’t be afraid to ask questions:
- At risk of being homeless or running away from home
- Severe family issues like drug addiction, alcoholism
or abuse
- Signs of fear, anxiety, depression, tension or
nervousness
- Hyper-vigilant or paranoid behavior
- Interest in relationships with older men
- Unexplained shopping trips or purchases of new
clothing and/or jewelry, especially if the clothing is revealing or
suggestive”
- See more at: