Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt

But on average, they're not treated well. They're bullied at higher rates for sure. And trans youth are particularly vulnerable. And also their mental health is off the chart. Like their poor mental health is higher than anything I've seen in my career. So we have this really massive study where we're following hundreds of thousands of kids in Ontario.

And those who identify as trans are not doing well.

And those who identify as trans are not doing well.

And those who identify as trans are not doing well.

I think the temporal precedence has not been established because it's been so politically challenging to study this. And this is always a problem when politics interfere with science and knowledge, then you can't get to truth. I think that you know that we both know that this is a problem.

I think the temporal precedence has not been established because it's been so politically challenging to study this. And this is always a problem when politics interfere with science and knowledge, then you can't get to truth. I think that you know that we both know that this is a problem.

I think the temporal precedence has not been established because it's been so politically challenging to study this. And this is always a problem when politics interfere with science and knowledge, then you can't get to truth. I think that you know that we both know that this is a problem.

And also too, it's frustrating to see the exception always being hailed as truth, right? Like these are, they are very sensational stories. They elicit a lot of reaction. They get circulated a lot. They get stuck in your brain because of how salient they are. And that then is weaponized against this group that's quite diverse, right?

And also too, it's frustrating to see the exception always being hailed as truth, right? Like these are, they are very sensational stories. They elicit a lot of reaction. They get circulated a lot. They get stuck in your brain because of how salient they are. And that then is weaponized against this group that's quite diverse, right?

And also too, it's frustrating to see the exception always being hailed as truth, right? Like these are, they are very sensational stories. They elicit a lot of reaction. They get circulated a lot. They get stuck in your brain because of how salient they are. And that then is weaponized against this group that's quite diverse, right?

And that's a problem because we're really causing harm to individuals who don't fit that minority that is hailed as being the boogeyman. And I, it, yeah, it, I feel for trans kids. I very much do. I think that they're in a really tough spot and, um, and we really need to be thinking about this. These are young people. So, um,

And that's a problem because we're really causing harm to individuals who don't fit that minority that is hailed as being the boogeyman. And I, it, yeah, it, I feel for trans kids. I very much do. I think that they're in a really tough spot and, um, and we really need to be thinking about this. These are young people. So, um,

And that's a problem because we're really causing harm to individuals who don't fit that minority that is hailed as being the boogeyman. And I, it, yeah, it, I feel for trans kids. I very much do. I think that they're in a really tough spot and, um, and we really need to be thinking about this. These are young people. So, um,

Ultimately, you know, society should be judged on how well they care for their most vulnerable. And I don't think our report card's very good in this area.

Ultimately, you know, society should be judged on how well they care for their most vulnerable. And I don't think our report card's very good in this area.

Ultimately, you know, society should be judged on how well they care for their most vulnerable. And I don't think our report card's very good in this area.

That's precisely the mechanism. They think that what they're doing is justified, that the person deserves their poor treatment. And if they don't think it, they will convince themselves that they do. So they may have reacted impulsively and then justified it using moral disengagement principles, or they had already, you know, They've already said this person's less.

That's precisely the mechanism. They think that what they're doing is justified, that the person deserves their poor treatment. And if they don't think it, they will convince themselves that they do. So they may have reacted impulsively and then justified it using moral disengagement principles, or they had already, you know, They've already said this person's less.

That's precisely the mechanism. They think that what they're doing is justified, that the person deserves their poor treatment. And if they don't think it, they will convince themselves that they do. So they may have reacted impulsively and then justified it using moral disengagement principles, or they had already, you know, They've already said this person's less.

They've already dehumanized the individual. And then that has given them license to treat them poorly. Moral disengagement, I think, is the most important theory that explains how everyday people become bullies, how everyday people can treat others poorly and still sleep with a good conscience. Because really, it's about making our egregious acts more palatable.