Jordan Peterson Bio and Positions

B.A. in Political Science University of Alberta

B.S. in Psychology University of Alberta

Ph.D. in Psychology McGill University

Peterson, Jordan B. Maps of meaning: The architecture of belief. Routledge, 2002.

Peterson, Jordan B. 12 rules for life: An antidote to chaos. Random House Canada, 2018.

DeYoung, Colin G., Lena C. Quilty, and Jordan B. Peterson. "Between facets and domains: 10 aspects of the Big Five." Journal of personality and social psychology 93.5 (2007): 880.

Carson, Shelley H., Jordan B. Peterson, and Daniel M. Higgins. "Decreased latent inhibition is associated with increased creative achievement in high-functioning individuals." Journal of personality and social psychology 85.3 (2003): 499.

Researcher, Scientist and Intellectual Rockstar: Jordan Peterson's Bio

Jordan Peterson was born in Edmonton, Alberta Canada in 1962. Taking a circuitous route to his role as a researcher, he initially graduated from the University of Toronto receiving a B.A. in Political Science. After traveling for a year, Peterson returned to school and chose to re-enter as an Undergraduate this time as a Psychology major (unlike American Universities, Peterson did not have to re-take all core curriculum allowing him to finish his psychology degree in a year). Prior to graduating, he was accepted into a PhD program from McGill University. Under the supervision of American Psychologist Robert O. Pihl (probably most known for his work on substance abuse, though he too has a vast literature of publications) Jordan Peterson successfully defended his thesis on Potential psychological markers for the predisposition to alcoholism.

Peterson has spent over 30 years researching and publishing on a variety of aspects within the social sciences. Prior to his best-selling book, it's important to note that some of his many papers (see citations) have sailed over 1,000 citations which is not only a number most social scientists would kill for but also illustrates his influence within the field.

As a Clinical and Personality Psychologist

Right from his dissertation Peterson began his work on studying addiction. In more recent years his work with frequent collaborator Dr. Shelley Carson, he's authored some of the most cited works in the field. His most cited paper, however, remains: Between facets and domains: 10 aspects of the Big Five. The paper was ambitious in that it found positive reason to believe that 10 factors that contribute to the Big 5 personality traits might have separate bioligical substrates.

DeYoung, Colin G., Lena C. Quilty, and Jordan B. Peterson. "Between facets and domains: 10 aspects of the Big Five." Journal of personality and social psychology 93.5 (2007): 880.

As an Author and YouTube Success

In 1999 Peterson wrote his first book Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief , a book that is in someways similar and dissimilar to frequent combatant Sam Harris' End of Faith. Both began writing their first novel well before they were credentialed scientists but nevertheless dip into fairly technical cognitive and psychological waters. Though well received upon its release, Peterson's recent rise to fame has caused academics to re-visit the book with many including Paul Thagard and others, opining quite critically of the piece. His YouTube channel, which features many of his lectures from his classes (as well as interviews with other intellectuals and personalities) has well over 2 million subscribers.

Selected Positions:

Citations and notes:

DeYoung, Colin G., Lena C. Quilty, and Jordan B. Peterson. "Between facets and domains: 10 aspects of the Big Five." Journal of personality and social psychology 93.5 (2007): 880.

Who are his Fans?

Averaging roughly 1,000,000 Google searches over the last year (2018-2019), Jordan Peterson has amassed a large international audience of predominantly (though not exclusively) males over the age of 22. Breakdown by country is the following (data via Google trends):

Corrections Policy

Should we become aware that a thinker has changed their position, or if new evidence shows we have misconstrued their views, we will make the correction, note it here, and explain how we missed it.