Jordan Peterson is a Canadian psychologist, author, and commentator who gained prominence in the late 2010s. Known for his views on cultural and political matters, he's often described as conservative, though he identifies as a classical liberal and traditionalist. Peterson's work spans clinical psychology, personality, ideology, and religious and mythological narratives, often emphasizing individual responsibility and meaning in life. He is known for his lectures and debates on diverse subjects.
1937: Walter Peterson Born
In 1937, Walter Peterson (Jordan's father) was born.
1939: Beverley Peterson Born
In 1939, Beverley Peterson (Jordan's mother) was born.
1979: Graduates High School
In 1979, Peterson graduated from Fairview High School in Fairview, Alberta, and then entered Grande Prairie Regional College.
1982: Completes BA in Political Science
In 1982, Peterson completed his BA in political science at the University of Alberta.
1984: Receives BA in Psychology
In 1984, Peterson returned to the University of Alberta and received a BA in psychology.
1985: Attends McGill University
In 1985, Peterson moved to Montreal to attend McGill University, where he pursued his PhD in clinical psychology.
1989: Marriage to Tammy Roberts
In 1989, Jordan Peterson married Tammy Roberts. They later had two children.
1991: Earns PhD in Clinical Psychology
In 1991, Peterson earned his PhD in clinical psychology from McGill University under the supervision of Robert O. Pihl.
June 1993: Post-Doctoral Fellow at McGill's Douglas Hospital
In June 1993, Peterson concluded his time as a post-doctoral fellow at McGill's Douglas Hospital.
July 1993: Teaches at Harvard University
In July 1993, Peterson began teaching and conducting research at Harvard University as an assistant professor in the psychology department.
June 1998: Leaves Harvard University
In June 1998, Peterson concluded his time at Harvard University.
1998: Returns to Canada
In 1998, after researching and teaching at Harvard University, Peterson returned to Canada and became a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto.
1999: Publishes Maps of Meaning
In 1999, Jordan Peterson published his first book, "Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief." It combined psychology, mythology, religion, literature, philosophy, and neuroscience to analyze belief systems.
2000: Began Collecting Soviet-Era Paintings
Around 2000, Jordan Peterson started collecting Soviet-era paintings to remind himself of the connection between totalitarian propaganda and art.
2003: Appearance on Big Ideas
In 2003, Jordan Peterson appeared on the TVOntario program Big Ideas, where he spoke on a subject from a psychological perspective.
2004: Maps of Meaning Lecture Series
In 2004, Jordan Peterson's 13-part lecture series based on Maps of Meaning aired on TVOntario.
2006: Appearance on Big Ideas
In 2006, Jordan Peterson appeared on the TVOntario program Big Ideas, where he spoke on a subject from a psychological perspective.
2011: Essayist and panelist on The Agenda
From 2011, Jordan Peterson became a regular essayist and panelist on TVOntario's The Agenda, discussing culturally relevant issues from a psychological perspective.
2013: Registered YouTube Channel
In 2013, Peterson registered a YouTube channel named JordanPetersonVideos, and immediately began uploading recordings of lectures and interviews.
2014: Uploads University of Toronto classes on YouTube
From 2014, uploads include recordings from two of his classes at University of Toronto ("Personality and Its Transformations" and "Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief").
March 2016: Announces Intention to Improve YouTube Content
In March 2016, after three years of basic uploading of course videos, Peterson announced an interest to clean existing content and improve future content on his YouTube channel.
August 2016: Patreon Donations Increase
From early 2017, funding for projects dramatically increased through his use of Patreon, starting in August 2016, donations were at $1,000 per month.
September 2016: Criticizes Bill C-16
In September 2016, Peterson released a series of videos criticizing Bill C-16.
September 2016: Response to Pronoun Request
In September 2016, Peterson was asked if he would comply with a student's request to use a preferred pronoun.
December 2016: Jordan B. Peterson Podcast Started
In December 2016, Jordan Peterson started his podcast, The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast.
2016: Honorary Member of Kwakwakaʼwakw Family
In 2016, Jordan Peterson became an honorary member of the extended family of Charles Joseph, a Kwakwakaʼwakw artist, and was given the name Alestalagie ('Great Seeker').
2016: Restricted Diet
In 2016, Jordan Peterson restricted his diet to only meat and a few vegetables to control his depression and autoimmune disorder.
2016: Clonazepam Prescription
In 2016, Jordan Peterson was prescribed clonazepam for anxiety that reportedly began after a 'violent reaction to a meat and greens only diet', starting at 0.5mg/day.
2016: Criticizes Bill C-16
In 2016, Peterson released YouTube videos criticizing Bill C-16, arguing against compelled speech regarding gender pronouns and critiquing 'political correctness'.
January 2017: Patreon Donations Increase
From early 2017, funding for projects dramatically increased through his use of Patreon, in January 2017, donations were at $14,000 per month.
February 2017: Bernier Shifts Position on Bill C-16
In February 2017, Maxime Bernier shifted his position on Bill C-16 to opposition after meeting with Peterson.
April 2017: SSHRC Grant Denied
In April 2017, Peterson was denied a SSHRC grant, leading to claims of retaliation for his statements on Bill C-16 and a crowdfunding campaign in response.
May 2017: The Psychological Significance of the Biblical Stories Lecture Series Begins
In May 2017, Peterson began "The Psychological Significance of the Biblical Stories", a series of live theatre lectures and podcasts analyzing narratives in the Book of Genesis.
May 2017: Speaks Against Bill C-16
In May 2017, Peterson spoke against Bill C-16 at a Canadian Senate Committee hearing.
July 2017: Patreon Donations Increase
From early 2017, funding for projects dramatically increased through his use of Patreon, in July 2017, donations were at $50,000 per month.
November 2017: Shepherd Censure at Wilfrid Laurier University
In November 2017, Lindsay Shepherd was censured at Wilfrid Laurier University for showing a clip of Peterson debating Bill C-16, though the censure was later withdrawn and apologies were issued.
2017: Interview on Self-Censorship
In 2017, Peterson claimed in an interview that reactions on social media had promoted self-censorship among journalists following a public controversy around cultural appropriation.
2017: Pauses Clinical Practice
In 2017, Peterson decided to put his clinical practice on hold.
2017: Calls to Defund Liberal Arts Programs
In 2017, Peterson proposed cutting funding for liberal arts programs in Canada, claiming students were being indoctrinated with "cultural Marxism."
2017: Religious Beliefs
In a 2017 interview, Peterson discussed his religious beliefs, stating he supposes he is a Christian and expresses ambivalence about the existence of God.
January 2018: Publishes 12 Rules for Life
In January 2018, Peterson's second book, "12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos," was published and became a bestseller.
February 2018: Agreement with College of Psychologists of Ontario
In February 2018, Peterson entered into an agreement with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) after a professional misconduct complaint.
March 2018: Vox Article on Peterson's Popularity
In March 2018, Zack Beauchamp of Vox published an article offering his perspective on why Jordan Peterson had become so popular.
May 2018: Patreon Donations Increase
From early 2017, funding for projects dramatically increased through his use of Patreon, in May 2018, donations were at $80,000 per month.
June 2018: Debate with Sam Harris
In June 2018, Jordan Peterson participated in a debate with Sam Harris at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, moderated by Bret Weinstein, discussing religion and God.
June 2018: Lawsuit Against Wilfrid Laurier University
In June 2018, Peterson filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against Wilfrid Laurier University, alleging defamation by staff members.
August 2018: YouTube Channel Growth
As of August 2018, Peterson's YouTube channel had gathered more than 1.8 million subscribers and his videos received more than 65 million views.
August 2018: Atlantic Article on Peterson's Popularity
In August 2018, Caitlin Flanagan of The Atlantic wrote an article discussing the reasons behind Jordan Peterson's popularity.
2018: Temporarily Stops Teaching
As of 2018, Peterson temporarily stopped teaching.
2018: Pauses Clinical Practice and Teaching, Publishes 12 Rules for Life
In 2018, Peterson paused his clinical practice and teaching duties. Also in 2018, he published his second book, "12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos", which became a bestseller.
2018: Associated with the Intellectual Dark Web
In 2018, Peterson was associated with the "intellectual dark web" in a New York Times article, and has been criticized regarding arguments outside his expertise as "conspiratorial" and "riddled with pseudo-facts".
2018: Channel 4 Interview on Gender Pay Gap
In a 2018 Channel 4 News interview, Peterson debated the gender pay gap with Cathy Newman, leading to online harassment against Newman, which Peterson condemned.
2018: Opposition to Identity Politics
In a 2018 interview with Time magazine, Peterson expressed his opposition to identity politics, arguing it is practiced by both the left and the right and focuses on group membership rather than individual responsibility.
2018: All-Meat Diet
In mid-2018, Jordan Peterson stopped eating vegetables and continued eating only beef, salt, and water, which nutrition experts warned could result in 'severe dysregulation'.
January 2019: Deletes Patreon Account
In January 2019, Peterson deleted his Patreon account in protest of the platform's banning of Carl Benjamin.
March 2019: Cambridge Fellowship Rescinded
In March 2019, Cambridge University rescinded a visiting fellowship invitation to Peterson due to concerns about his association with Islamophobia and the university's commitment to inclusivity.
March 2019: Podcast Joins Westwood One
In March 2019, The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast joined the Westwood One network, with his daughter co-hosting some episodes.
December 2019: Thinkspot in Beta Testing
As of December 2019, Thinkspot (a new, free speech–oriented social networking and crowdfunding platform) remained in beta testing receiving largely negative reviews from media critics.
2019: Health Problems
In 2019, Peterson suffered health problems related to benzodiazepine dependence.
June 2020: First Public Appearance After Treatment
In June 2020, Jordan Peterson made his first public appearance in over a year on his daughter's podcast recorded in Belgrade, stating he was 'back to my regular self'.
November 2020: Criticism of Publishing Decision
On November 23, 2020, Penguin Random House Canada (PRH Canada) held an internal town hall where many employees criticized the decision to publish Peterson's book.
2020: Increased Clonazepam Dosage
By 2020, Jordan Peterson's clonazepam dosage had increased to 4mg/day. He attributed this increase to his wife Tammy's kidney cancer diagnosis.
2020: Health Problems
In 2020, Peterson continued to experience health problems related to benzodiazepine dependence.
2020: Mikhaila's Diet Analyzed
In 2020, a New Republic article described Mikhaila Peterson as a "nutrition 'influencer' with no medical credentials" while analyzing her diet and its promotion.
2020: CPO Investigation
In March 2020, the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) investigated statements made by Peterson.
March 2021: Beyond Order Released
On March 2, 2021, Peterson's third book, 'Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life,' was released.
2021: Publishes Beyond Order, Resigns from University of Toronto
In 2021, Peterson published his third book, "Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life", resigned from the University of Toronto, and returned to podcasting.
2021: Retires from the University of Toronto
In the fall of 2021, Peterson retired from the University of Toronto, becoming professor emeritus.
January 2022: Statements Under Review
Between January 2022 and June 2022, some of Peterson's public statements were reviewed and deemed 'disgraceful, dishonourable and/or unprofessional'.
May 2022: Becomes Chancellor of Ralston College
In May 2022, Peterson became chancellor of the newly launched Ralston College.
June 2022: Statements Under Review
Between January 2022 and June 2022, some of Peterson's public statements were reviewed and deemed 'disgraceful, dishonourable and/or unprofessional'.
June 2022: Deal with The Daily Wire
In June 2022, Peterson signed a deal with The Daily Wire, including distribution rights and production of bonus content.
June 2022: Twitter Account Suspended
On 29 June 2022, Peterson's Twitter account was suspended under the site's 'hateful conduct policy' after posting a tweet misgendering Elliot Page.
November 2022: Twitter Account Restored
In November 2022, Peterson's Twitter account was restored after Elon Musk acquired the company.
November 2022: Book of Exodus Lecture Series Released
In November 2022, a second series of lectures on the Book of Exodus released on DailyWire+.
November 2022: ICRC Orders Remedial Program
In November 2022, the ICRC ordered Peterson to complete a remedial program regarding professionalism in public statements.
2022: Climate Change Denial on Joe Rogan
In 2022, Peterson made inaccurate and misleading statements about climate change and climate modeling on The Joe Rogan Experience, drawing criticism from climate scientists.
2022: Signs with The Daily Wire, Becomes Chancellor of Ralston College
In 2022, Peterson signed a content distribution deal with The Daily Wire and became Chancellor of Ralston College.
2022: Initial Decision
In 2022, the ICRC reached initial decisions regarding Peterson's public statements
June 2023: Founds Alliance for Responsible Citizenship
In June 2023, Peterson founded the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship along with Baroness Stroud and John Anderson.
August 2023: Judicial Review Upheld
In August 2023, the Ontario Divisional Court upheld the College of Psychologists of Ontario's decision regarding Peterson's public statements.
November 2023: Alliance for Responsible Citizenship Conference
In November 2023, the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, an organization affiliated with Peterson, held a conference that downplayed anthropogenic climate change and promoted fossil fuels.
2023: Published "A Conservative Manifesto"
In 2023, Peterson published "A Conservative Manifesto", reinforcing his association with conservative ideology.
January 2024: Appeal Upheld
In January 2024, the Court of Appeal for Ontario upheld the decision against Peterson regarding his public statements.
August 2024: Supreme Court Declines Appeal
In August 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear Peterson's appeal, closing legal options for resisting social media training.
October 2024: Trudeau Alleges Funding by RT
In October 2024, Justin Trudeau claimed Peterson was funded by Russian state-owned media, leading Peterson to consider legal action.
November 2024: Publishes We Who Wrestle with God
On 19 November 2024, Peterson's fourth book, We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine, was published.
November 24, 2024: Criticism in The Guardian
On November 24, 2024, Martha Gill criticized Peterson in The Guardian, noting his appeal to young men through self-improvement and spirituality.
2024: Beverley Peterson Death
In 2024, Beverley Peterson (Jordan's mother) passed away.