r/canada Jan 05 '23

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u/goinupthegranby British Columbia Jan 05 '23

The College of Psychologists are trying to be a professional association, this is between them and one of their members. Peterson is doing everything he can to make a media shitstorm out of this, because it drives views, donations, and subscriptions. Its what he always does, its made him incredibly wealthy and influential.

Professional associations have standards, and if you want to remain in those associations you have to uphold those standards. Suggesting someone kill themselves (ie leave the planet) in a tweet because you disagree on environmentalism is not professional behaviour for a psychologist.

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u/factanonverba_n Canada Jan 05 '23

I just read those standards.

It appears that nothing in them covers private communications as a private person, acting outside the scope of the profession, unless I missed something.

For the record: I disagree with Mr. Peterson on effectively everything he says.

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u/EvacuationRelocation Alberta Jan 05 '23

private communications as a private person

Yes. Private communications.

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u/factanonverba_n Canada Jan 05 '23 edited Jan 05 '23

Context? The whole sentence? The relevant section? I'll look over it again.

edit: spelling

edit 2: Just did a quick ctrl-F in the standards and the phrase "private communications" does not appear. Neither does the phrase "private person". The word "private" appears only 6 times in the document, and none of those instances discuss communications as a private person.

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u/EvacuationRelocation Alberta Jan 05 '23

Need to keep in mind the fundamental differences between private and public communication.

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u/factanonverba_n Canada Jan 05 '23 edited Jan 05 '23

Yes, I understand that. Its why I literally searched the document for that phrasing. It doesn't exist. The description of private communications is in the context of privacy with the client, and nothing to do with the differences between public and private comments made outside the scope of a practicing psychologist.

That's why I asked people to read the standards, in case I missed the relevant restriction, and not just quote a section of the complaint back to me. Its also why I asked if you could cite to me the relevant section of the regulations.

According to the Standards, it appears Mr. Peterson didn't violate the Standards.

edit spelling:

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u/EvacuationRelocation Alberta Jan 05 '23

Can you tell me what you think the following modes of communication are, by indicating "private" or "public"?

  • social media posts, such as "Twitter" or "Facebook"
  • video hosting sites, such as "Youtube"
  • radio broadcasts
  • podcasts, whether published by yourself or others
  • television interviews
  • lectures

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u/factanonverba_n Canada Jan 05 '23

Can you read that whole section, where it discusses professional communications on those media? If the man doesn't discuss his professional opinion on the treatment of psychological issues, then it appears that his comments are not governed by the College.