The Radicalisation of Jordan Peterson
From campus rockstar to battle-worn mercenary
Nascent advocate
Descriptions of Jordan Peterson fluctuate between Jesus turned psychologist and Hitler’s own step-brother. But, who was he before setting an entire political sphere on fire?
Born in Canada to a librarian and a school teacher, Jordan Bernt Peterson was bound to become well-read and nice. He was politically involved from a young age–in junior high school JBP fostered a friendship with Rachel Notley, who later on became the 17th premier of Alberta from 2015 to 2019 (and now holds the role of leader of the Opposition since 2019). He also joined the New Democratic Party from ages 13 to 18.1 There is little doubt about the direction of his youthful steps. Contrarian to his Christian upbringing, JBP rebels against conformity. Well-spoken and courageous he compares the Cold War to two religious factions having it out.
“Religion was for the ignorant, weak, and superstitious (…) I stopped attending church, and joined the modern world.”
– Jordan B. Peterson
The need to be on the opposite side of what he saw as ignorant, weak, and superstitious sets in stone the direction of his philosophy, and thereof his life. A rebellious phase that may have initiated with the desire to fork from parents later ossifies to a constant need for understanding. JBP goes on to complete a first BA in political science, and a second one in psychology before earning his PhD in clinical psychology seven years later at the age of 29. At this time he has already been married to Tammy Roberts for two years and they welcome a daughter in their third year–Mikhaila Peterson (whose name appears to be inspired by the Soviet’s last leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. Yikes). With a nuclear family in place and his first book, Maps of Meaning, in progress, JBP joins Harvard as an assistant professor and subsequently as an associate professor in the psychology department. There have been several testimonies that attested to his cult following by students. An account published by Anne C. Krendl in 1995 in The Harvard Crimsom details how his magnetic force was received on campus.2
"Anyone who's taking his class can immediately recognize that he's teaching beyond the level of anyone else," psychology concentrator Hassan H. Lopez '95 says.
"Philosophy students even go to him for advice on these," Lopez says.
Students, including Alisa N. Kendrick '97 say Peterson's wide breadth of knowledge allows him to create "beautiful" theories linking together ideas from mythology, religion, philosophy and psychology.
"I remember students crying on the last day of class because they wouldn't get to hear him anymore."3
In 1998, three years later, JBP turns back home and joins the University of Toronto (where he will later take the first stand against his opposition). In the following, retrospectively peaceful years, JBP appears on multiple occasions on the show Big Ideas and has a 13-part lecture series aired in 2004 along with other appearances on TVOntario. His professional career advances steadily as he juggles his University duties, his clinical practice (where he sees about 20 people a week), and his sickly daughter. Mikhaila's various health issues include 37 inflamed joints by age 7 and hip and ankle joint replacement surgery at age 17.4
At this point in time, he is acknowledged to be an intelligent and loving person. He cares about his family, students, and patients.
A beam in the darkness
What brought me and many others to Peterson?
There is little that JBP loves more than discussing personalities–himself embodying the sage archetype.5 That is who he was to a vastitude of individuals dappling with meaning in their lives.
During his lectures, he would investigate significant questions through stories and myths. It is difficult to understand “why would you sit through a two-hour-long lecture on youtube” if one has not dappled with depression. The following video demonstrates how stories can assist in solving life’s problems: Slaying the Dragon Within Us (published on 26 Jan 2016, Youtube). I have linked a 13 minutes cut below. I recommend it to all those seeking to understand why people admire JBP and how a simple story written for 4-year-olds can be incredibly complex and rewarding to one’s mature existence.
Through his Youtube channel, people from all over the world were able to join lectures as if they were his students. It helped them think critically but most importantly be aware of how they could improve their lives, face problems and resolve experienced traumas. A two-hour long therapy session was available at a mouse-click and with every session, you understood yourself better and became kinder.
On the 1st of November 2018, I attended a JBP live event in Cambridge. I did not live in the United Kingdom at the time, but being present at one of his live lectures was a dream so I jumped on a plane direction England.
The event house was full, and to my surprise, the gender attendance was quite balanced. The talk went like any of his Youtube lectures, it was interactive, gripping, and unscripted. I went home with a JBP t-shirt bought at a premium. I had met my paragon (or at least seen him from a few meters away). I was happy.
Spotlight
He takes a stand, and the world watches
Bill C-16. (No, not Elon Musk's newest child.) The bill which is explained in detail here6 was a first step towards the curtailment of free speech and the imposition of subjective pronouns by the transgender community. People could be charged with a crime should they misgender someone. Or at least this is what JBP vocally claimed in a series of videos and later on while a guest on a Joe Rogan podcast episode. His views caused a stir on campus where many students criticised what they perceived as an act of transphobia. The first protest on campus can be seen below.
The demeanor of those attempting to silence him help cement the idea that JBP may in fact be right. It goes viral and the views spread to his online lectures. Along with the praise, JBP grows more political on his channel, releasing one year later a video on white privilege and therefore officially entering the identity politics arena. Simultaneously, he promotes his second book, 12 Rules For Life, which becomes an instant bestseller. The psychology lectures become a thing of the past, replaced by interviews and footage of his expensive (trust me) live events.
The attempts at shutting him down only serve to increase his popularity. The most memorable being Cathy Newman from Channel 4 and the famous “ah, gotcha” moment. The main video has today more than 44 million views.
C: Why should your right of free speech trump a trans person right not to be offended?
P: Because to be able to think you have to risk being offensive. Look at our conversation, you’ve certainly been willing to offend me on your pursuit of truth. It has rather been uncomfortable.
C: Euh… (10 seconds of stupor)
P: Ah, gotcha. (playful tone)
JBP is both admired and hated in equal fervour. Two years later, at the front of the self-called Intellectual Dark Web7, he is unrecognisable from the kind-hearted professor that made students cry with love; now become a stern-looking businessman carrying a suitcase of intellectual puissance. Partially funded by his Patreon and the sales of self-help products–he wears expensive suits and gives interviews around the globe. What happened?
Bathing in poisonous water
The wilting of Peterson
It is difficult to say when the descent toward chaos began. In fact, a large portion of the man that stood in simple clothing before a whiteboard remains inside. It is easy to divide the world in two, but the same task applied to an individual becomes near impossible. Regardless of there being good, bad, and also a great in-between–the bad became distinct. Pungent. With the acquired celebrity status JBP appreciates an increasing demand for his attention, whether soliciting his advice or tearing apart every word once uttered. Under constant pressure, Peterson starts to break. Blunders are made. It is unascertainable if many things said are his real opinions, or instead, sale-speech for political shelter. Despite the perfectly-noncommittal answers to valid questions, institutions and public figures start seeing this vocal intellectual as a liability to have around.
One of these instances is Cambridge University rescinding its fellowship invitation following the emergence of the above Islamophobe picture. The accumulation of stress, some self-induced and others unfairly assigned by life bring those proud shoulders down. To nail the second hand to the cross, during the same period, in April 2019 his partner Tammy is diagnosed with kidney cancer. JBP’s only parachute become benzodiazepine pills8 which help bring his anxiety down. Even a parachute only slows down the descent; the landing is inevitable. JBP quickly grows physically dependent on his medication. His efforts to quit are multiple, painful, and almost deadly. The family grows desperate and decides to look instead toward the red star for help. In Russia, he is enrolled in an alternative treatment with the help of Mikhaila’s Russian (and potentially demon possessed) husband. He’s subsequently induced into a coma for eight days. Despite the neurological damage incurred the treatment is a success. The Petersons bid adieu to Moscow.
If this were to be a biblical story perhaps all these incidents are God’s way of saying “pause, and reflect. It is not too late”. JBP goes on to publish his third book–Beyond Order. At this point our psychologist is very wealthy, but with a hiatus in appearances and the deletion of his Patreon in early 2019, his monthly income happily welcomes the additional layer of regular cash. The latter having been deleted in support of the controversial Youtube philosopher, Sargon of Akkad that had been banned from the platform.
“Like a rock star spiraling into burnout, he was consumed by the pyramid scheme of fame, parceling himself out, faster and faster, to everyone who wanted a piece. Perhaps he didn’t want to let people down, and he loved to feel needed. Perhaps he enjoyed having an online army glorying in his triumphs and pursuing his enemies.”
– Helen Lewis
Attempts to find positives (which still remain) in JBP are analogous to staring into the abyss. Shrouded in helpful meaning for life, he stares back at us, one spamic–arm extended. A call for help or a portal to political warfare…it becomes difficult to say.
In early 2022 JBP decides to leave academia and resigns from the University of Toronto where he held a tenured professorship. The last link between the old and new Peterson. Not surprisingly, his internet rampage pursues with intentionality–on June 2022 he tweets the following to transgender actor Eliott Page: “Remember when pride was a sin? And Ellen Page just had her breasts removed by a criminal physician.” which leads to the suspension of his account on Twitter. To add insult to injury, JBP goes on to tell his 4 million followers on Instagram that he’d rather die than delete the tweet about Eliott. However, in my opinion, he only falls to unreachable depths when he inks a partnership with the Ben Shapiro owed news media–The Daily Wire, joining the ranks of Candance Owens.
At this time, Lord of the Rings and Gandalf’s terror at carrying the Ring comes to mind. Perhaps there is yet another lesson to be absorbed here: be famous or be vocal, but do not be both.
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1995/4/26/jordan-peterson-pharvard-students-may-know/?page=single
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1995/4/26/jordan-peterson-pharvard-students-may-know/?page=single
https://www.chronicle.com/article/whats-so-dangerous-about-jordan-peterson/
https://wikibio.in/mikhaila-peterson/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wise_old_man
https://www.cbc.ca/cbcdocspov/features/canadas-gender-identity-rights-bill-c-16-explained
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_dark_web
It is used in muscle spasms, convulsions caused by epilepsy or fever, anxiety, agitation or insomnia associated with anxiety, panic attacks, as a pre-med before surgery or medical procedures, alongside other treatments in alcohol withdrawal.