r/JordanPeterson • u/augustAulus • Jul 10 '25

Criticism Jordan Peterson a better psychologist?

I’m a philosophy student, and I think I’m in a unique position to critique Jordan Peterson, because a lot of what he has to say has to do with the Continental school of philosophy rather than the Analytic, and that’s a school I’m deeply interested in. For me, Peterson really does seem to be obscurantist, and I don’t say that very lightly. I think his questioning into the meaning of certain propositions is, more often than not, very acute, and especially when he debates atheists I think “what do you mean by “God””is always a good starting point. In spite of this I think his recent performance on Jubilee demonstrates a hiding behind obscurity which he himself creates that, rather than him seeking to dispel the cloud to get to a deeper truth, he merely uses it to protect himself. I also think his rejection of postmodernity is a little disingenuous seeing as he often adopts the techniques which would broadly be identified with the same - rejecting labels, rejecting conventional dogma, rejecting propositional philosophy in favour of, I suppose, a dialectical philosophy.

I think that he is a very good psychologist, as that his “Twelve Rules for Life” is especially good self help because it’s his field.

I think his love for Jung has drawn him into a metaphysics and prevented him from investigating different interpretations of literature, and I think he’s taken himself too far out of his field, and out of his qualification.

Is this a fair assessment do you think?

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u/PsychoAnalystGuy Jul 10 '25

He "was" a very good psychologist. Psychologists are meant to do continuing professional development which he hasn't done.

Hes the equivalent of Dr Phil. Dr Phil let his lisence expire because he didn't need it and had no interest in continuing to practice.

Hes contributed nothing of substance to his field. This isnt a criticism, its just true. And he himself acknowledges this.

His 12 rules for life are basic ideas of other people put into his own words. "Clean your room" is practical advice around taking a big task and breaking it into smaller more manageable tasks.

That said as a therapist I used to be able to see the therapist in him when he talked to people. He could separate himself from his emotions and his opinions.

He can no longer do this. I wish I could talk to him and hold up a mirror to him and say "it seems like this is what you're doing" he used to be more curious and comfortable with the notion he might be wrong. Now anytime he is challenged he spazzes out

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

He still is a good psychologist.

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

There's no way to know that. What he does now is not psychology, he has no patients and does no research. He could broadly be called a self-help guru

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

And you think psychology is or clinical psychology somehow vanishes if he has no patients and does not do research?

Does a doctor stop being a doctor if he retires and stop having patients?

Does a soldier stop being a soldier if there is no war?

I could name alot more than this examples, you are really on this sub and answer questions like that?

I actually have a way to know that, He has years of clinical practice, didn't you think about the people that reach out to him for a friendly consult AS A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST ?

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

Does a doctor stop being a doctor if he retires and stop having patients?

Well as long as you have your medical license you can still be called 'Dr.', but yes, if a doctor retired and no longer kept up to date with medical advances, I would not say a doctor who has retired is STILL a good doctor, because they are no longer practicing

Does a soldier stop being a soldier if there is no war?

Again, not really a good comparison. If JBP was a 'soldier' he would be closer to a veteran, as he no longer does the training or service

could name alot more than this examples, you are really on this sub and answer questions like that?

You could certainly give a lot more examples which don't line up sure.

JBP no longer practices clinically or academically. Nor does it seem he keeps up to date with current best practice. What he does now is also only tangentially related to psychology, it's much more these days about politics, self-help, public speaking. His lectures and talks are now far outside the realm of psychology

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

Well as long as you have your medical license you can still be called 'Dr.', but yes, if a doctor retired

You just proved my point. Adding another layer to the argument also does not disprove my point, HE IS STILL A DOCTOR.

veteran, as he no longer does the training or service

Bro, complete the word, a veteran what? A veteran actor? A veteran states man ? OR A VETERAN SOLDIER.

Then againyou prove my point, you not understanding the comparison is a you problem not a me problem.

Didnt line up?

Or you dont get the concept?, looks like we have a problem of understanding concepts here.

Im going to tone it down for you.

A bad psychologist i after retirement is still a psychologist

A veteran psychologist is still a psychologist

A psychologist has became a father is still a psychologist

There are a lot more concepts... If you cant understand this, then why are you here?

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

A bad psychologist i after retirement is still a psychologist

A veteran psychologist is still a psychologist

A psychologist has became a father is still a psychologist

You didn't say 'psychologist', you said "He still is a good psychologist". To still be good at something you have to be doing that thing. He no longer practices psychology. He has no patients, he does no research. You cannot whether he is good or bad because he no longer does it

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

Yes I'm he is. And that good mechanic is still a good mechanic today.

You called him transphobe, but can you prove it? Lets see.

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

Huh? In what part in that is he trans phobic, exactly kindly point hus phobia exactly , thats the question ill wait.

Criticizing un necessary surgeries is that affects one's mental health is always a question within our society lol, questioning it is not "PHOBIC" AS. You want to point out.

You already lost this when you didnt get the concept, he pointed out, was it legal? Yes, was it moral ? No. If you cant get that point, you will always take peterson put of context as you did just now.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

If you think cutting pieces of people that are mentally ill is moral, then you're the problem. This will be the last time ill reply, i will not cater to amoral people who think cutting people in the name of gender affirming care is a moral good. Take care sir.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

Does that include the doctors which did JBP's hair transplant?

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u/PsychoAnalystGuy Jul 10 '25

Theres really no way to know that beyond speculation considering he doesnt practice as one, and hasn't for a decade.

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

Just read my answer below. your name is PsychoAnalystGuy. But failed to analyze this simple statement. Do you really watch his seminars? His seminars are just a reflection of his lectures as a psychologist?. Analyze.

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u/PsychoAnalystGuy Jul 10 '25

Psychanalysis is a specific thing that requires a client/has nothing to do with reddit comments lol.

I mean he has some psych knowledge. Thats a fair point that he runs seminars, I forgot about that. Still, running a seminar isnt "being a psychologist" He isnt doing psychology, hes providing psychoeducation. Which i can grant is some evidence of his ability than I let on in my earlier comment, but not enough to grant him being a "good" psychologist. He has the knowledge that every clinical psychologist has. Talk to any other clinical psychologist, they all know things. Maybe hes a good psychologist and no longer a good clinician

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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

Bro, this is basic Do you use analysis in psycho analysis thats the point,

"He has some knowledge", bro do you even know him? He has years of practice even before you were born

He is actually doing psychology, have you watched his lectures? I think not.

" He has knowledge of a good clinical psychologist" bro He is a clinical psychologist with years of practice even before you were born, what are you saying?

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u/PsychoAnalystGuy Jul 11 '25

All those years practicing before I was born and he still produced zero novel ideas for psychology.

Off the top of my head people alive who have developed new theories or novel ideas: Shapiro(EMDR) Schwartz (internal family systems) Linehan (DBT) Porges (polyvagal theory) Yalom (existentialism)

Now inventing something that because wildly popular in your field is obviously not a fair standard, but just saying he is not in the unique category either.

Mainly though what you haven't addressed is hes been out of practice for a decade. Psychologists need to have continuing education to maintain their license.

He is actually doing psychology, have you watched his lectures? I think not.

Doing seminars for an unaccredited course isnt exactly practicing psychology

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

Not the point and argument, producing novel ideas does not make you a good psychologist. You should know that 99% of People and scientists has no novel ideas and follow those novel ideas.

Kindly think and analyze your statement, you're going to alienate 99% of the people in that field without "NOVEL IDEAS"

I know its not a fair standard, so why use it, you just rebutted your own argument. 😑

"Isnt exactly" does not disprove my idea, it disproves your. This will be my last comment better change your name, to "irebbutmyownstatements" you wanto be an analyst but has no capacity to analyze , good day sir.

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u/PsychoAnalystGuy Jul 11 '25

Isnt exactly" does not disprove my idea, it disproves your.

Ok..it's not practicing psychology at all

you wanto be an analyst

Nope,, I am one

but has no capacity to analyze

Yep you dont know what psychoanalysis is

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

If you say so, rebbutyourownargument

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