Hello, Mr. Jordan Peterson. How are you?

Hello. Well, I’m doing fine, and terribly. It’s just the beauty of the human experience.

It is, indeed. So it says here you’ve applied for the position of a Psychologist or, perhaps, a
Psychology Professor at Habib University. Why don’t you start by telling us about yourself?
Tell us about your research. What your work focuses on?

Professionally, I’m a clinical psychologist and a professor of psychology at the University of

Toronto right now. My work and research essentially explore topics under the subject matter of
the human mind and its relationship to the broader world. I am curious about why people hold
the views they do and how those views eventually shape their lives. I believe, only by delving
deeply into the psychology of beliefs, be it ideological or religious, can I get to the surface of
how it all comes to be.

What have you been recently focusing on? And how is that relevant to the contemporary
times we live in?

Recently, in my lectures and writings, I’ve been emphasizing the importance and finding ways in
which individual freedom and the capacity of people to think for themselves can be preserved
against the threat of ongoing identity politics and biased measures of political correctness. I
believe it’s crucial for individuals, now more than ever, to become aware of their
responsibilities, start to take control of their lives, and make meaning for themselves. Finally, I
believe that a deep understanding of underlying psychological patterns is necessary for us to
understand the world better and, even more, our place in it.

It’s often said that we live in the unhappiest period of human history. What’s your take on the
reasons behind this?

Well, that’s a good question covering a wide range of potential ideas or ideals, if you will. There
haven’t been any happy periods in human history per se. You look at any given piece of human
history where they achieved stupendously incredible feats, there were problems. In any period
in history, not one was completely happy. At the same time, however, I completely see our
times as being the “unhappiest”. This has little to do with the idea that the people of the past
were inherently happier, no, no, not at all. That’s a dangerous road to go down. What’s different
is that while the human being has been to some degree an inherently unhappy creature, in its
very fundamentalistic make-up, never before in history, unfathomably so, in history, has the
drive to search for happiness been as demonized as it is now. You tell people to be at peace with
their miserable conditions, you tell them that it isn’t necessary for them to work for a better life
if they don’t feel like it… well, what else do you expect, of course, it’s the unhappiest time in
human history. People are running away from nature, and there is no happiness to be found on
that path because it is a state of denial. Don’t do that. It is a crime to let their potential go to
waste simply because you choose to lie to them. We love talking about happiness, but we never
try to ask what it is. We’ve heard these ideas of an ego, a superego, an id, and so, there’s always
been this knowledge that there is a self that exists beyond the physical realm. Yet somehow, our
happiness has become a solely physically motivated object. And so you pursue this happiness or
whatever else you want to call it, only to find you want more. My friend, this is because your
physical self might have got what he wanted, but you have done nothing to heal the self beyond
the physical realm.

How would you bring about better education in the university?

Well, most students at the undergraduate level have become increasingly concerned with
instant gratification, and I would bring or at least try to bring certain changes to the classroom
which would affect the behavior of the students and instill discipline and courage into them
because I feel like there is a huge lack of courage and confidence in the youth.

In your journey as a clinical psychologist, have you faced any criticisms?

I believe my influence puts me in a position where my claims are undergoing criticism at all
times. Scientific evidence is one of the largest basis on which critics refute my work. For
instance, My research on gender and its relationship with biology has been one of the popular
targets of criticism. Apparently, my ideas are too conservative, and that’s somehow a bad thing.
As if there’s any certainty about better days in the future based on where the world is heading
right now.

How do you respond to all your criticisms? Tell me, do you think they’re all wrong?

My response to all of this criticism has been consistent. Firstly, I do not intend my research to be
a hard, scientifically proven fact. It’s usually a starting point for further research and
investigation. I believe the important thing here is continued scientific inquiry and debate, and
my work contributes to it. I’m not giving a final word on any topic. I’m not writing the Bible. I’m
just a psychologist expressing himself.

As a psychologist, what do you think about the Oedipus complex by arguably one of the best
psychologists, Sigmund Freud?

I believe that Oedipus complex recognizes the importance of the mother-son relationship in the
development of male identity. I see this complex as a natural and normal part of human
development and believe that it reflects the biological fact that mothers are typically the
primary caregivers of young children. However, I believe Oedipus's complex is too focused on
sexuality and somewhat neglects, or perhaps puts less emphasis on, other important factors,
such as the relationship between father and son. I believe a more comprehensive theory of
male development needs to take into account the entire family system, as well as broader
cultural and societal factors.

Alright, Jordan, you’re free to leave, and we’ll get back to you shortly.

It was a pleasure being here.

I say, let’s give Freud a call. Because when I think of psychology involved in human
development, that’s the one commendable person that comes to mind.

Hey Frued. I don’t know if you’re aware of this guy, Jordan Peterson, who came here for a job.
If you are, I’d like to know your opinion on his work.

Hello. I know that guy; he’s been quite popular. Let’s talk about his work. On the matter of
contemporary identity politics, upon which Jordan Peterson has spoken his mind quite
significantly. Although I do not belong to the time he does, I would most likely agree with him
that they are a symptom of a more significant issue within modern-day human psychology and
that the modern-day destruction of family structures has led to these “abnormal”
developments in the current generation's sexual development. I believe irregular parenting
structures do not allow for the Oedipus complex to take hold as it normally does. At the same
time, I would also claim that these symptoms are inevitable as it is most likely destined for
humanity to be in this state of conflict, and it would almost seem to me that Jordan Peterson’s
optimism is misplaced or perhaps even futile.

Freud, I have to be honest, as an interviewer, I struggle with hiring people because I don’t
know how they’ll mesh with the culture. Speaking of that, more scientifically, how can one
overcome a fear of the unknown?

One cannot overcome something so primal as fear. It is ingrained in the very fiber of your
existence. Any attempt to escape from it will only pull you back in deeper. Your conscious mind
may be in a constant state of escape, but there will be twofold opposite effects acting on your
unconscious. While you may try to change your situation in the conscious realm, there is no way
for you to even fathom what is happening in the unconscious, so why try? Remain unaware.
Don’t even try to fight what you cannot defeat, for it is a path that leads only to your
destruction.
Thank you for your time, Freud. You were super helpful.

I feel Jordan Peterson’s a very relevant figure in contemporary psychology. Although most of
his work is controversial, and some would even say ascientific, I feel his intentions with
research lie in the right place: the betterment of humanity.

With exposure to other professors and their work in different fields, I believe he could
potentially evolve his research and the institute of science overall.

Let’s give him a call. He’s on board for me.