Jordan Peterson actually made some crucial points in his recent appearances (with a massive caveat of course, but hear me out):

He’s right in that psychological deviance is prior to ideology. Pathological personalities (especially psychopaths) will gladly use any ideology or idea space if it serves them and their particular profile.

They will gladly immerse themselves in left-wingism, different religious groups or sects, and yes, also in right-wing circles.

Because they seem to talk about the same things and have the same opinions as you, it’s hard to spot them. It takes long observation and exchanging data with others to see through them.

Psychopaths don’t care about ideology or religion, but they are very good at inserting themselves in groups and, due to their charismatic and seemingly fearless nature, rise quickly, often becoming leaders. They will do or say anything, including extreme things, if it furthers their agenda and gives them power. Some are content with leading cult where they dominate 5 people, others have bigger ambitions. They find a niche, a pathway to power and control and sadism, and say whatever it takes. They can poison a whole field, the entire discourse, or whole subgroups.

There is a great book about all that called Political Ponerology, check it out, as well as Harrison Koehli’s Substack where he talks about this in detail.

So yes, Peterson is right, this is a danger and a problem.

Of course, there’s a huge caveat. Namely that he has a rather small “personal Overton window” and is hyper-allergic to any opinion outside of it. An edgy take does not a psychopath make. Neither does talking about alternative interpretations of history, Jews in positions of power, ethnic identity, or post-liberal ideas. Peterson is clueless about these things, and a big snowflake. And so he dangerously lumps together people who simply have different ideas with those who might really be psychopaths/adjacent types.

This is unfortunate, because by misapplying to the wrong people the crucial idea of pathological individuals cloaking themselves in ideology/philosophy/religion where these things really are nothing to them, Peterson discredits the whole concept.

So please, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater on this one.