Coercion in Plain Sight examines stalking, trafficking, and survivor behavior through the lens of coercive control, challenging the myth of the “perfect victim” and equipping professionals to recognize patterns of domination and respond without causing further harm.
Coercive control is often misunderstood because it does not always involve visible or episodic violence. Instead, it operates as a sustained pattern of domination that restricts autonomy, shapes decision-making, and constrains choice over time. Stalking, trafficking, and related forms of exploitation are frequently misidentified or minimized because they do not align with dominant narratives of victimization.
This workshop provides a research-grounded framework for understanding coercive control as the common thread across stalking, trafficking, and institutional responses shaped by the myth of the “perfect victim.” Participants will learn why survivor behaviors often labeled as inconsistent, non-compliant, or irrational are predictable responses to threat, surveillance, and dependency.
Designed for professionals working in advocacy, legal, clinical, and allied systems, this training emphasizes pattern recognition, constrained choice, and trauma-informed responses that reduce harm rather than reinforce control.
This course explores the intersections of coercive control, stalking, and trafficking. By acknowledging that these issues are frequently misunderstood by systems that rely on incident-based and behavior-focused assessments, which can lead to survivor-blaming, credibility errors, and interventions that unintentionally escalate risk. The point of this course is to shift professionals from asking why survivors behave the way they do to understanding how coercion operates, equipping participants with a research-grounded framework for recognizing patterns of domination, interpreting survivor behavior in context, and responding in ways that reduce harm, increase safety, and avoid reinforcing coercive control at both interpersonal and institutional levels.
