What is a common technique used by traffickers to manipulate victims?

Coercion is a prevalent tactic utilized by traffickers to manipulate victims because it involves forcing or intimidating individuals into submission or compliance. This technique can take many forms, including threats of violence, exploitation of vulnerabilities, or emotional manipulation. Traffickers may use coercion to instill fear, create dependence, or eliminate a victim's sense of autonomy, making it challenging for them to escape their situation.

While leveraging personal relationships might play a part in some trafficking situations and counseling sessions could theoretically support victims, these approaches do not fundamentally capture the manipulative essence of trafficking. Financial inducements may be used as a lure at times, but coercion is a more direct and pervasive method employed by traffickers to maintain control over their victims. Thus, understanding coercion's role is crucial in recognizing the complexities of human trafficking and the psychological hold traffickers can have over their victims.