How education and upbringing influenced the life of Jordan Peterson. A timeline of key moments.
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.
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.
2004: Maps of Meaning Lecture Series
In 2004, Jordan Peterson's 13-part lecture series based on Maps of Meaning aired on TVOntario.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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'.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
November 2022: Book of Exodus Lecture Series Released
In November 2022, a second series of lectures on the Book of Exodus released on DailyWire+.
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.
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.
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.