Psychol Rev April 2012 PMID 22250757

Psychological entropy: a framework for understanding uncertainty-related anxiety.

Jacob B Hirsh, Raymond A Mar, Jordan B Peterson

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Mentions

36
Peak: 5 in Jun 2023
across 5 sources since May 2020

Extended reach

76,366
potential audience

Total likes

128

Video views

4,035

Mentions per month

May 2020 – Aug 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter17 posts
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  • YouTube2 videos
  • Facebook2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions demonstrate a strong interest in the article, with posters referencing its relevance to topics like internal conflict, anxiety, and even biological systems, such as mentions of related studies and gratitude towards the author. The tone ranges from academic to reflective, emphasizing the framework’s broad applicability and influence.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize the importance of the framework for understanding anxiety, with some explicitly referencing the original paper or its concepts, indicating general agreement.

InterestHigh interest

The sharing of related articles, external links, and mentions of applications suggest a high level of curiosity and interest among the posters.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts include personal reflections, references to research, and expressions of gratitude, showing moderate depth of engagement with the ideas.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions highlight the framework's relevance across psychological, biological, and philosophical domains, indicating a modest but meaningful impact.

Abstract in brief

  • Psychological entropy, based on thermodynamics and information theory, explains the level of uncertainty and disorder in a system, which can lead to anxiety when it's high.
  • The Entropy Model of Uncertainty (EMU) suggests that humans constantly manage uncertainty by aligning their perceptions and goals, and anxiety arises when there's conflicting information or behavior, activating brain regions like the anterior cingulate cortex.
  • EMU emphasizes that uncertainty is a natural adaptive challenge for survival, and understanding it through the lenses of self-organizing systems and information theory helps frame psychological processes within a broader biological and evolutionary context.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
gökhan özcan
@dunyadalik · X

Zihin, evrenin kendi kendine düzen bulma çabasının bir yansımasıdır. Zihnin entropi yasası olan belirsizliği yönetmek, varoluşun temel görevlerinden biridir. Bu konuda şahane bir makale, buyrun: https://t.co/MgJeTHiDIx

Aug 27, 2025 · 20 likes · 2,686 followers View post →
Brett Andersen
@BrettPAndersen · X

Intimations of a New Worldview, Part 7.1: The Evolutionary Psychology of Meaning (video 1) is on my YouTube channel. Link is below and some slides are attached. https://t.co/W4Ov7kyjKL https://t.co/itkLc2AR7c

Jun 26, 2023 · 7 likes · 1 share · 1,395 followers View post →
gökhan özcan
@dunyadalik · X

"psikolojik entropi"den bahseden bir makaleye denk geldim. hepimiz yeryüzünde ruhsal düzensizliğimize çekidüzen vermek için türlü hallere girerek dolanıp duruyoruz. https://t.co/eVd5bLZXtE

Jun 18, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 2,686 followers View post →
Jake Orthwein
@JakeOrthwein · X

@nickcammarata Psychological Entropy: A Framework for Understanding Uncertainty-Related Anxiety: https://t.co/pGz34qELEE

Oct 16, 2024 · 4 likes · 10,878 followers View post →
Flâneur
@GROEMODEL · X

@jordanbpeterson Spine-tingling realization, many warm thanks Prof, it reminds me of your landmark paper that I greatly utilized in my PhD thesis, God bless you,love & warmest gratitude

May 31, 2021 · 3 likes · 456 followers View post →
Carlos E Alvarez
@CarlosEAlvare17 · X

I see (bio systems & free E). Maybe you were looking for something more like this 2012 paper cited 460 times?: Hirsh et al. Psychological entropy: A framework for understanding uncertainty-related anxiety. Psychological Review, 119(2), 304–320. https://t.co/oYweQjcnm3 https://t.co/xhmNzRN1Jg

Jan 5, 2021 · 2 likes · 1,141 followers View post →

All mentions

gökhan özcan
@dunyadalik · X

Zihin, evrenin kendi kendine düzen bulma çabasının bir yansımasıdır. Zihnin entropi yasası olan belirsizliği yönetmek, varoluşun temel görevlerinden biridir. Bu konuda şahane bir makale, buyrun: https://t.co/MgJeTHiDIx

Aug 27, 2025 · 20 likes · 2,686 followers View post →
Jake Orthwein
@JakeOrthwein · X

@nickcammarata Psychological Entropy: A Framework for Understanding Uncertainty-Related Anxiety: https://t.co/pGz34qELEE

Oct 16, 2024 · 4 likes · 10,878 followers View post →
Boma Jacks
@ebjacks1 · X

@Organicinterest I heard it on a podcast Jordan Peterson did with physicist, Brian Greene, then I read a paper JP co-authored on it. Here’s a link to the paper; https://t.co/4Cf6MvO7Ou

Oct 15, 2024 · 2,172 followers View post →
No Echo Chambers
@EntertainThese · X

RT @EntertainThose: @elonmusk #metathesiophobia @NCBI https://t.co/jSSyiYp0w8 @NIH #x_meta

May 4, 2024 · 1 share · 233 followers View post →
Consider That
@EntertainThose · X

@elonmusk #metathesiophobia @NCBI https://t.co/jSSyiYp0w8 @NIH #x_meta

May 4, 2024 · 2 likes · 1 share · 204 followers View post →
Flâneur
@GROEMODEL · X

RT @BrettPAndersen: Intimations of a New Worldview, Part 7.1: The Evolutionary Psychology of Meaning (video 1) is on my YouTube channel. Li…

Jun 27, 2023 · 1 share · 454 followers View post →
Brett Andersen
@BrettPAndersen · X

Intimations of a New Worldview, Part 7.1: The Evolutionary Psychology of Meaning (video 1) is on my YouTube channel. Link is below and some slides are attached. https://t.co/W4Ov7kyjKL https://t.co/itkLc2AR7c

Jun 26, 2023 · 7 likes · 1 share · 1,395 followers View post →
Robin Kok
@Heraclitus00_ · X

RT @jordanbpeterson: My lab's attempt to relate a subjective reality (anxiety) to an objective reality (entropy): Psychological entropy: A…

Jun 5, 2023 · 64 shares · 871 followers View post →
Coach Wayland | Performance Expert | Craftsman
@WSWayland · X

https://t.co/rZeftthKB2

May 18, 2023 · 15,509 followers View post →
Brett Andersen
@BrettPAndersen · X

@danwilliamsphil @erikphoel One benefit of having a functional worldview IMO is to reduce psychological/behavioral entropy (https://t.co/yl7gPZdWCu), i.e., internal conflict and behavioral uncertainty/anxiety. But measuring that is difficult and there are way more factors involved than just this.

Mar 29, 2023 · 1 like · 1,387 followers View post →
BFNotion
@barefootnotion · X

Here is a study that will give you the perspective to explain all human behavior, culture, and history of religions through uncertainty and anxiety in the mind. Oh my, I'm so impressed. https://t.co/VrdA7O4Szg

Nov 22, 2022 · 69 followers View post →
Toon Noppen
@ToonNoppen · X

@Monumentsmusic @anilkseth I don't know. I think his definition is quite clear and useful... https://t.co/IaPeKJRpTj

Oct 22, 2022 · 165 followers View post →
gökhan özcan
@dunyadalik · X

"psikolojik entropi"den bahseden bir makaleye denk geldim. hepimiz yeryüzünde ruhsal düzensizliğimize çekidüzen vermek için türlü hallere girerek dolanıp duruyoruz. https://t.co/eVd5bLZXtE

Jun 18, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 2,686 followers View post →
Flâneur
@GROEMODEL · X

@jordanbpeterson Spine-tingling realization, many warm thanks Prof, it reminds me of your landmark paper that I greatly utilized in my PhD thesis, God bless you,love & warmest gratitude

May 31, 2021 · 3 likes · 456 followers View post →
Carlos E Alvarez
@CarlosEAlvare17 · X

I see (bio systems & free E). Maybe you were looking for something more like this 2012 paper cited 460 times?: Hirsh et al. Psychological entropy: A framework for understanding uncertainty-related anxiety. Psychological Review, 119(2), 304–320. https://t.co/oYweQjcnm3 https://t.co/xhmNzRN1Jg

Jan 5, 2021 · 2 likes · 1,141 followers View post →
Guy IS IN SF
@nosilverv · X

@AgoLajko It's a technical term. But basically think of any traumatic situation. https://t.co/16KTVmajVH

Jun 22, 2020 · 1 like · 29,602 followers View post →
Daniel Hernández
@Danitubo · X

Psychological Entropy: A Framework for Understanding Uncertainty-Related Anxiety https://t.co/X5XRyRi2Tn

May 25, 2020 · 2,285 followers View post →