Chapter 3 Learning Objectives:
Criminological theories are not often applied to human trafficking, but they can sometimes be used to explain why trafficking occurs. Below are key theories discussed in chapter 3:
Rational Choice Theory: The theory essentially states that criminals, like traffickers, choose to commit crimes. They aim to obtain the maximum rewards possible, while avoiding any legal consequences. Ex: A pimp sells his prostitutes for money and keeps it hidden to avoid being arrested.
Routine Activities Theory: Three key components to this theory: motivated offenders, suitable targets, and a lack of capable guardians.
- Rational Choice Theory
- Routine Activities Theory
- Situational Crime Prevention
- Strain Theory
- Trauma Bonding
Criminological theories are not often applied to human trafficking, but they can sometimes be used to explain why trafficking occurs. Below are key theories discussed in chapter 3:
Rational Choice Theory: The theory essentially states that criminals, like traffickers, choose to commit crimes. They aim to obtain the maximum rewards possible, while avoiding any legal consequences. Ex: A pimp sells his prostitutes for money and keeps it hidden to avoid being arrested.
Routine Activities Theory: Three key components to this theory: motivated offenders, suitable targets, and a lack of capable guardians.
- A sad story depicting this is Sokha’s story. When Sokha was 7, she lived in Cambodia and was raised by her poor mother. One day Sokha’s mother sold her to an American pedophile. Her mother claims that she thought Sokha\would become a waitress, and not be trafficked. Sokha’s village clearly had motivated offenders, the suitable and vulnerable target, and an incapable guardian. Her mother jumped at the opportunity to sell her for money.
Situational Crime Prevention: This attempts to reduce the opportunity for offenders to commit crimes.
Strain Theory: Three sources of strain- failure to achieve positively valued goals, removal of positively valued stimuli, and confrontation with negative stimuli.
The picture below is of Amora, a 21 year old woman whose father sold her to a pimp when she was 10. She was trafficked for 10 years before escaping. She grew up in a neighborhood and environment where there was no room to grow. Her father was addicted to drugs and likely did not achieve his goals, and with little resources available, he sold his daughter in order to survive and continue to abuse drugs.
Source: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Woman-Speaks-After-Surviving-Sex-Trafficking-396571441.html
Trauma Bonding: When a trafficker victimizes, and at the same time, forms a fake relationship with their prostitutes. Ex: A pimp becomes a woman’s boyfriend, begins to abuse her, and forces her to become a prostitute. Even if she isn’t physically restrained, she may feel obligated to stay because she thinks he loves her and may change one day. Additionally, the trafficker may be taking care of all her basic necessities.
Ask Yourself:
Additional Resources:
https://www.dummies.com/education/psychology/important-theories-in-criminology-why-people-commit-crime/
https://ojp.gov/specialfocus/humantrafficking/resources.htm
https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/1747/
Strain Theory: Three sources of strain- failure to achieve positively valued goals, removal of positively valued stimuli, and confrontation with negative stimuli.
The picture below is of Amora, a 21 year old woman whose father sold her to a pimp when she was 10. She was trafficked for 10 years before escaping. She grew up in a neighborhood and environment where there was no room to grow. Her father was addicted to drugs and likely did not achieve his goals, and with little resources available, he sold his daughter in order to survive and continue to abuse drugs.
Source: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Woman-Speaks-After-Surviving-Sex-Trafficking-396571441.html
Trauma Bonding: When a trafficker victimizes, and at the same time, forms a fake relationship with their prostitutes. Ex: A pimp becomes a woman’s boyfriend, begins to abuse her, and forces her to become a prostitute. Even if she isn’t physically restrained, she may feel obligated to stay because she thinks he loves her and may change one day. Additionally, the trafficker may be taking care of all her basic necessities.
Ask Yourself:
- Do you think these theories can be applied in practice? Why or why not?
- Which one of these theories do you think best explains human trafficking?
- What would you have done if you were Sokha’s mom?
Additional Resources:
https://www.dummies.com/education/psychology/important-theories-in-criminology-why-people-commit-crime/
https://ojp.gov/specialfocus/humantrafficking/resources.htm
https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/1747/