Psychological Perspectives on Human Trafficking: Theory, Research, Prevention, and Intervention

This book explores human trafficking through various psychological frameworks, summarizing the definitions and types of trafficking, their social and individual impacts, and the ways in which mental health practitioners can raise awareness and provide care to survivors.

The crime of human trafficking affects millions of people worldwide. This volume aims to aid mental health care professionals in supporting and treating survivors of human trafficking, developing methods of assistance and prevention, and serving as advocates in the global effort to prevent trafficking. It explores human trafficking through various psychological frameworks, and summarizes research on different types of trafficking—including sex trafficking and labor trafficking—as well as their social and individual impacts, and demonstrates how mental health practitioners can raise awareness and provide care to survivors.

Chapters examine theoretical perspectives on the psychology of trafficking and its effects on marginalized communities using clinical, social, and industrial/organizational psychology frameworks. Expert contributors use developmental, positive, and liberation psychology approaches to explain the social determinants of trafficking and provide opportunities for prevention and intervention. They examine public perceptions of trafficking and how those perceptions are influenced by the media, and highlight the importance of psychologists' involvement in multidisciplinary care teams as they seek strategies for positive change.