Displacement effect theory
The “Displacement effect theory” posits that the human brain has a defense mechanism strategy of involuntarily displacing the unacceptable effects of a situation or person by an alternative situation that the mind deems acceptable (Walker, Gaviria, & Gopal, 2018). This theory argues that the displacement activity takes place unconsciously in the mind and it aims to find a satisfactory alternative that relieves stress, trauma, and other tensions from a person.
The victims of sex trafficking suffer a lot of trauma because of the unfortunate ordeal at the hands of the sexual-offenses perpetrators. The trauma that victims of sex trafficking ordeals go through makes them become depressed, drug addicts, violent, and even commit suicide. The displacement effects theory provides an exhaustive explanation of the effects of trauma on these sex trafficking victims. This theory states that the displacement effect on the human mind acts like a cycle; the human brain unconsciously and constantly looks for alternative solutions to the problems causing the victims to have stress (Walker et al., 2018). The theory notes that mostly the displacement provides solutions that are dangerous to the victims.
For the sex trafficking victims, they are faced with a lot of anger against their unfortunate sex ordeals, their traffickers, own bodies, and the people paying for sex. According to the displacement effects theory, the minds of the victims begin looking for alternative methods of coping with their trauma. The theory denotes that for situations involving anger the mind resorts to resolve the matter using the same anger or feeling; the emotion is displayed on the target of the victim (Gerassi, 2015). The target can be the victim or the traffickers and their customers. Therefore, victims of sex trafficking displace their trauma by engaging in alternative behaviors such as drug addiction, violence, and suicide (Gerassi, 2015). The explanation by the theory elucidates the reason for the increasing cases of drug addiction, violence, and suicide rates among victims of sex trafficking.
Mental health professionals can use the displacement effects theory to assist sex-trafficking victims in their recovery processes. According to the theory, the effects of the displacements are very harmful and psychotic; the patients need to be urgently evaluated and treated before they harm themselves from the trauma effects (Walker et al., 2018). Mental health professionals are advised to use appropriate control methods to manage the emotions of the sex-trafficking victims during the healing process. One way of dealing with the traumatic emotions of the patients is to assist them to direct their anger and emotions to non-human things. For example, the victims can relieve their rage by punching on a bag, screaming, or jogging with mental health professionals.
The mental health professionals should also provide crisis care to the victims by explaining to them the effects of their trauma and its consequences. Through the displacement effects theory, the victims will understand that they are likely to make alternative decisions that are harmful to their lives and that of the people around them. Once the victims have understood and accepted their emotions, they will be willing to apply the coping mechanisms explained by the mental health professionals. According to the displacement effects theory, the victims will channel their traumatic rage on the coping mechanisms that involve bag-punching and screaming to relieve tension from their bodies (Walker et al., 2018). The victims will, therefore, not have effects such as drug addiction, violence, and suicide attempts because of proper mental health management.