Has Jordan Peterson ever mentioned a formal autism diagnosis or neurodivergence?
Executive summary
Jordan Peterson has discussed autism publicly—hosting a long interview with autism researcher Simon Baron‑Cohen on his podcast in July 2025 and presenting material about the biopsychology of autism in other public resources [1] [2]. Available sources do not mention Peterson ever stating he has received a formal autism diagnosis or explicitly declaring himself neurodivergent (not found in current reporting).
1. A prominent public conversation about autism
Peterson hosted Dr. Simon Baron‑Cohen on Episode 562 of The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast in July 2025, a wide‑ranging discussion explicitly framed around “What Do We Actually Know About Autism?”; transcripts and summaries of that episode show Peterson asking detailed questions about the widening classification of the autism spectrum and engaging deeply with Baron‑Cohen’s research [1]. That high‑profile interview demonstrates Peterson publicly engaging with scientific perspectives on autism rather than making personal diagnostic claims [1].
2. Educational materials and talks on autism topics
Beyond the podcast, Peterson has materials attributed to him discussing the biopsychology of autism—such as a Prezi titled “The Biopsychology of Autism”—that present autism as a spectrum and emphasize individual variability in autistic traits [2]. Those materials position Peterson as a commentator and educator on autism concepts rather than as someone describing a personal diagnosis [2].
3. No sourced personal diagnosis in available reporting
Despite extensive coverage of Peterson’s public statements and interviews in the documents provided, none of the available sources report him saying he has been formally diagnosed with autism or self‑identifying as neurodivergent; the sources focus on his interviewing of experts and presentations of autism science [1] [2]. Therefore the assertion that he has publicly claimed a diagnosis is not supported by the supplied reporting (not found in current reporting).
4. How public figures’ neurodivergence claims typically appear in reporting
When public figures disclose diagnoses or neurodivergence, reporting commonly cites explicit first‑person statements, medical confirmation, or sustained self‑identification; the supplied sources instead record Peterson’s interviewer role and educational content [1] [2]. The absence of such a first‑person disclosure in these sources is notable and should caution readers against assuming a diagnosis without direct evidence [1].
5. Competing interpretations and where ambiguity could arise
Some audiences may interpret Peterson’s in‑depth engagement with autism research and presentations about autistic traits as signaling personal relevance; the sources, however, treat his role as host, discussant, and presenter rather than as a subject disclosing neurodivergence [1] [2]. That distinction matters: public engagement with a topic does not equal personal diagnosis, and the supplied texts do not conflate the two [1].
6. Limits of the current evidence and next reporting steps
The available documents are limited to a podcast transcript and related educational materials; they do not represent a comprehensive archive of every statement Peterson has ever made. If a definitive answer is required, primary sources to check next would be Peterson’s own statements across his podcast back catalog, social media, interviews, and any published autobiographical material—none of which are present in the supplied sources (not found in current reporting). Reporters should seek direct quotations or official confirmations before asserting a personal diagnosis.
In sum: the supplied reporting documents Jordan Peterson discussing and educating about autism [1] [2], but they do not provide any evidence that he has publicly reported a formal autism diagnosis or explicitly identified himself as neurodivergent (not found in current reporting).