COVID-19

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Sport’Aide has expanded and adapted its support offer to the Quebec sporting community. (more…)

Further to its COVID-19 blog series, Sport’Aide is pleased to share a moving account by one of its partners, Plongeon Québec, outlining that group’s recent efforts to support diving coaches in this unique pandemic environment. Here’s the first of an interesting series of blogs about a great initiative that deserves to be better known and even emulated elsewhere. (more…)

In the last few weeks, how many times have we heard that “nothing will be the same again” that “habits or processes will have to be reviewed” or that “organizations are going to have to reinvent themselves”? in this chorus of questions, what about our young athletes who, used to the frantic rhythms dictated by their agendas, are waiting to get back to training? Are they all happy with this return to “normal”? One of our counsellors decided to speak to them. --------------- About a month has passed since Minister Charest announced the resumption of sporting activities. Talk about a boost for the morale! We can finally see our teammates, our friends and our coaches again. We can finally be…

This blog series has brought us to the following problem. According to studies on the behavioural immune system (BHS), the presence of the coronavirus could lead to greater conformity among Quebecers combined with a greater aversion for deviation from the norm. Consequently, this could exacerbate the exclusion of certain already marginalized communities and put them at even greater risk for certain types of violence, including bullying among children. That said, how can we prevent it from happening and avoid these communities suffering further from their exclusion? The answer is simple, but its application complex: inclusion. Complexity of inclusion The first difficulty with inclusion is that exclusion sometimes be legitimate. To function properly, a group must adopt inclusion and exclusion criteria…

To summarize where we are in our reflection, the presence of pathogens activates the behavioural immune system (BIM) and leads to greater rigidity in social norms (hygiene, nourishment, sexuality) as well as a greater aversion for those who break them (See blogs 1 and 2). So, does the BIM have a role to play in establishing and maintaining prejudices against certain marginalized groups? Not only is the answer yes, but the BIM has a leading role to play for prejudices with regard to people who are obese, disfigured, handicapped, seniors, foreigner and homosexuals (Aarøe& al., 2017; Ackerman & al., 2018; Fincher et al., 2008; Karinen & al., 2019; Kiss & al., 2020; Lai & al., 2014; Murray & al., 2013;…

In our most recent blog, we defended the fact that the presence of a disease like COVID-19 could lead to avoiding other people. On the contrary, we didn’t understand why we still wanted to see our loved ones, despite everything. Of course, there’s the fact that we long to see them, but you have to admit, they are just as likely, if not more likely, to transmit the disease to us. Like the good Dr. Arruda stated, most of these cases are transmitted by the family. Wouldn’t it therefore be more logical to avoid them like the plague? It seems that, combined with longing, the behavioural immune system (BIM) has a role to play in this process. The BIM and…

I would like to start this series of four blogs with a personal anecdote. Those who know me well know that for me, there’s nothing better than a good old handshake to start a friendly or professional meeting. That said, I recently watched a series in which the main character walked through a crowd and shook the hand of anyone who was willing. I was therefore surprised to feel a strong sense of aversion, telling myself “It’s absolutely crazy to touch so many people.” I had never had this reflex before and yet today, with the COVID-19 crisis, I am now overtaken by an instinctive disgust towards this type of behaviour. Nevertheless, like many of us, I also have an…