Human traffickers may traumatise their victims through the psychological manipulation and abuse; discuss Four ways in which human trafficking may negatively affect the victim self-esteem.
1. Loss of autonomy: Victims of human trafficking often have their basic human rights stripped away, including the ability to make their own choices and decisions. This loss of control can leave victims feeling helpless, powerless, and worthless, leading to a decrease in self-esteem.
2. Emotional abuse: Human traffickers use manipulation, coercion, and threats to control their victims, which can result in emotional abuse. Constantly being belittled, degraded, and taken advantage of can cause victims to internalize these negative messages and feel unworthy of respect or love.
3. Isolation: Human traffickers often isolate their victims from their support systems, such as family and friends, in order to further control them. This lack of social support can make victims feel lonely, abandoned, and disconnected from the outside world, contributing to a decline in self-worth and self-esteem.
4. Trauma bonding: In some cases, victims of human trafficking develop a complex psychological bond with their traffickers known as trauma bonding. This bond can create feelings of loyalty, dependence, and attachment to the abuser, even in the face of abuse and exploitation. This can lead to feelings of shame, self-blame, and low self-esteem as victims struggle to reconcile their conflicting emotions towards their trafficker.