Prevention Cohort LIVE Ep 5: Groomed short film by Travis Plunkett
Welcome to the Prevention Cohort LIVE stream, sponsored by PBJ Learning
Today, we spend a couple of minutes catching up on what's happening and then we do a watchalong of a short film called GROOMED, by Travis Plunkett.
If you'd like to watch the film BEFORE I start talking, here's the place to do it. Click here to watch the full film.
We record these meetings so you can watch them as a bit of an extra resource for yourself.
Before we begin
There are many versions of “stages of grooming” on the internet and none of them are definitive. So, when you're looking online and they don't all “match up,” that's because there are so many people looking at this issue from so many angles.
Grooming is one way that people trick you. And they do it in a way you'd never notice. These people use our humanity against us. It's that simple. And it's what makes it so hard to deprogram.
I'm not going to try to define things here in distinct “stages.” We're going to talk about individual concepts / tactics that were mentioned in the film.
What is grooming?
Grooming, in the context of human trafficking, refers to the manipulative and calculated process through which predators establish a psychological and emotional connection with potential victims.
The goal of grooming is to gain control over the victim, making them more vulnerable to exploitation and recruitment into trafficking situations.
Grooming can occur both in person and online, and it often involves a series of carefully planned stages aimed at breaking down the victim's defenses and establishing the predator's dominance.
Now, let's define each of the terms mentioned in the film with regard to grooming for human trafficking. Each of these were shown as title cards during the film:
Befriend
The initial stage of grooming involves the predator attempting to befriend the potential victim. They may appear friendly, compassionate, and understanding, seeking to establish a rapport and create a sense of camaraderie between themselves and the targeted individual. By appearing non-threatening and approachable, the predator aims to gain the victim's attention and trust.
Gain trust
After making an initial connection, the predator focuses on building trust with the victim. They may actively listen to the victim's problems, offer support, and appear empathetic. This emotional connection helps lower the victim's guard and makes them more likely to disclose personal information or vulnerabilities, which the predator can later exploit.
Desensitize
In this stage, the predator gradually exposes the victim to inappropriate or harmful content, conversations, or situations. By doing so, they aim to desensitize the victim to behaviors that they might initially find uncomfortable or wrong. This tactic helps break down the victim's boundaries and resistance to the predator's intentions.
Isolate
Isolation is a critical stage where the predator seeks to separate the victim from their support systems and social circles. They may encourage the victim to spend less time with friends and family, or they might create situations that make it challenging for the victim to maintain their existing relationships. Isolation increases the victim's dependency on the predator and decreases the likelihood of intervention from outside sources.
Alienate
During this stage, the predator may manipulate the victim's perception of their existing relationships. They may criticize or discredit the victim's friends and family, portraying them as harmful or untrustworthy. By alienating the victim from their support network, the predator further weakens their social ties and reinforces the reliance on the predator for emotional support.
Intoxicate
In some cases, predators may use drugs or alcohol to incapacitate the victim physically and mentally. Intoxication makes the victim more vulnerable and compliant, reducing their ability to resist or escape from dangerous situations. This tactic is especially prevalent in cases where traffickers exploit victims for commercial sex.
Control
As the grooming process advances, the predator exerts increasing control over the victim's life. This control can be emotional, psychological, or physical. The victim may feel indebted to the predator, trapped, or fearful of the consequences if they try to break free. The predator may use threats, blackmail, or violence to maintain control over the victim.
Capitalize (the ultimate goal)
Once the predator has successfully groomed the victim, they exploit the individual for their intended purpose, which could be forced labor, commercial sexual exploitation, or other forms of trafficking. The groomed victim becomes a commodity, subjected to exploitation and abuse for the predator's financial gain or other motivations.
It is crucial to be aware of these grooming stages to recognize potential signs of human trafficking and take preventive measures to protect vulnerable individuals from falling victim to these predatory tactics. By raising awareness about this issue, you can contribute to the fight against human trafficking and help others stay informed and vigilant.
Some references:
- https://safechild.org/understanding-grooming/
- https://www.inhope.org/EN/articles/the-stages-of-grooming
- https://www.albertacacs.ca/blog/stages-of-grooming
- https://www.modernintimacy.com/podcasts/6-stages-of-grooming-adults-with-barrett-pall/
Note that they do not have the exact same terms or definitions or order. No blame; that's just where things are right now in the literature.
AI Summary
We livestream, record and share our meetings for everyone's benefit. We use a Zoom addon product called Fathom, which screenshares, transcribes, and provides AI summaries of the calls. The transcriptions aren't perfect, but they are way awesome. This summary of the meeting is pulled straight from the automatic notes from Fathom.
- Billy Joe and others praised the fearless advocates who fought against human trafficking, recognizing their brilliance and determination to bring about change. They acknowledged that those who believed they could end human trafficking were the ones who ultimately achieved it. – PLAY @0:03
- Billy Joe discussed their upcoming plans to attend a conference called the classic game fest in Austin, where they aimed to use VR headsets to educate people about human trafficking. They also mentioned their interest in understanding grooming and their intention to share a video about it in the future. – PLAY @2:54
- Billy Joe and others discussed the dangers of online grooming and the importance of being aware of vulnerabilities. They emphasized the need for parents to be involved in their children's lives and for individuals to say no to manipulative requests and protect themselves online. – PLAY @5:23
- Billy Joe and the other participants discussed the challenges of parenting and the dangers of online grooming. They expressed frustration and concern for a child who had gone missing, highlighting the need for awareness and action to protect children from online predators. – PLAY @16:01
- Billy Joe and the others discussed how to help their parents and praised each other for their work. They also emphasized the importance of honesty and open communication, while expressing excitement about the progress they were making. – PLAY @25:23
- Billy Joe mentioned that he was excited to have the others around next week, but then corrected himself and expressed his anticipation for his vacation. He informed them that he would see them again in the first week of August and encouraged them to be awesome until then. – PLAY @28:15
Join us!
Radical Empathy welcomes all licensees and future licensees to join us at our weekly “Prevention Cohort,” where we discuss how to get the most out of training with the VR product, TRAPPED: A VR Detective Story.
We get together every Thursday to discuss how others are using our tools. Come join us by clicking the Zoom image, below, at 6pm CST.
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