Pimps also known as traffickers, are villains who exert control over, by fraud, force or coercion a prostitute. Traffickers force their girls into prostitution and live on the earnings from one or more victims forced into prostitution.

Pimping is a form of trafficking, and most prostitutes have pimps. Just as no one is born a prostitute no one is born a pimp. Iceberg Slim, America's most famous trafficker and pimp , is quoted as saying “a pimp is the loneliest bastard on earth” This is often obvious by the way they treat their victims.

Men and sometimes women become pimps through a variety of factors. These factors are economic, social and psychological. Common traits and conditions found in pimps/traffickers which may contribute for someone to become a pimp/trafficker:

Personality Traits Common to a Pimp/Trafficker:

~ need for stimulation/proneness to boredom,

~ parasitic lifestyle,

~ lack of realistic long-term goals, impulsivity, and irresponsibility

~ Antisocial and poor behavioral controls, including early behavior problems, such as juvenile delinquency,

~ Criminal versatility lack of remorse or guilt, callous/lack of empathy,

~ failure to accept responsibility for actions

~ grandiose sense of self-worth, superficial charm, ~ pathological deception, cunning/manipulative

Conditions Which Create a Pimp/Trafficker:

~ Living on the streets

~ Promiscuous sexual behavior and many short term relationships

~ Growing up in areas, exposed to prostitution or Someone in the family with history of prostitution

~ Being part of a gang

~ Previous convictions for violent offences family violence or other violence,

~ History of substance abuse

- alcohol abuse,

- drug abuse or polysubstance abuse