Panes of Glass

DESCRIPTION:  Ivan is a twenty-four year old, white, Russian male who has recently been diagnosed with “brain fever” by a Moscow doctor (Dostoevsky, 1977). Fyodor Pavlovich, Ivan’s father, and his mother raised him in his earliest years, but after his mother passed away, he was sent with his brother to live with and study under Yefim Petrovitch Polenov, the Marshal of Nobility of the province. Ivan soon discovered that Yefim took them in on charity for, though his mother had left both of her sons an inheritance, his father procrastinated indefinitely. At the age of thirteen, he was sent to a gymnasium to study, and from there went on to university, where he provided for himself by tutoring and writing articles for local publications. These articles provided him a voice in the community that was well-respected and admired for its confident, critical, and clever dialogue.

 

Ivan has two half-brothers as well. Dmitri, Fyodor’s son from his first marriage, went into the military after taking a portion of his inheritance from his father. He recently enlisted Ivan to help him obtain the rest of his inheritance from his father, though the two had never met previously. Smerdyakov was the bastard son of Fyodor and a local woman. Smerdyakov served as Fyodor’s servant and butler since his youth. He was also a clever man who looked up to Ivan as someone from whom he could learn much.

 

Recently, the entire Karamazov family was reunited, as Dmitri sought the rest of his inheritance. Ivan found himself thrown in the middle once Dmitri threatened the life of his father and Smerdyakov became Fyodor’s bodyguard. Smerdyakov shared everything with Ivan, though Ivan wanted to stay out of the mess. In the end, Ivan’s ideas were used by Smerdyakov to murder their father, though all evidence pointed to Dmitri. Ivan only learned of Smerdyakov’s involvement through several interviews with him after the incident where Smerdyakov assured Ivan that Ivan was just as involved as himself by running away and not attempting to prevent the murder, despite who the identity of the culprit.

 

Since this time, Ivan has lost his sense of control and has started to experience deteriorated relationships with those he knows. He has even asserted that he had an interview with Satan in his room. His eyes appear yellowish in color, he eats sparingly when he eats at all, and he cannot sleep. Ivan cannot make up his mind on who really killed his father or whether or not he should share the blame. In his brother Dmitri’s court case, he asserted first that he was responsible, then changed his stance. He is currently plotting his brother Dmitri’s escape, though he is still unsure whether or not Dmitri killed their father.

 

DIAGNOSIS:  Ivan appears to suffer from Schizoaffective Disorder. Ivan’s symptoms meet nearly all of the criteria for a Mixed Episode, the exception being “excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences” (PsychologyNet.org, 2003). His delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech meet Criterion A for Schizophrenia.

 

 

THEORETICAL JUSTIFICATION: 

 

Anatomical—The Karamazov family has a history of what seems best described as psychosis.  Fyodor Pavlovich, Ivan’s father, is known around the province as a “buffoon” (Dostoevsky). He even claims this is true, though his own reasoning is that he acts in accordance with the beliefs of his neighbors.  However, Ivan’s half-brothers Dmitri Fyodorovitch and Smerdyakov also exhibit signs of psychosis.  It therefore seems likely that Ivan has inherited his condition. It has only now exhibited itself through the traumatic events of the threats on his father’s life and resulting death.

 

Ivan’s condition could also have been triggered by illness. Smerdyakov noticed that Ivan’s eyes had a yellow hue, which could indicate malaria or . Such an illness can cause the hallucinations that Ivan has.

 

Behaviorism—poor models have surrounded Ivan throughout his life, with the possible exceptions of his brother Alexi and his tutor Yefim. In addition, Ivan’s beliefs that all problems have a concrete solution and that he is one of the cleverest of men has been reinforced consistently throughout his life, first by his tutor Yefim and then by the Moscow public at large through the success of his published articles. These beliefs have reinforced his behavior to observe and comment, not act, in almost any circumstance. However, this behavior has caused him great stress in that he was unable to decide what action to take when his father’s life was threatened. Ivan continues to retreat from addressing the issue to its conclusion.

 

Cognitive—Ivan believe that knowledge is the answer to any question. He has also come forward with his theory that there is no God because God cannot be good, and therefore everything is lawful. Ivan now questions this belief as he is confronted with his role in the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich.  If this theory is true, he should not feel anything; yet he has come under great duress because of his role in allowing the murder to happen.

 

Existentialism—As is indicated by Ivan’s description of his story The Grand Inquisitor, he has now come to believe that “everything is lawful” (Dostoevsky). He attributes no real sense of worth to anything in life.

 

Freud—Ivan has repressed emotions from rejection by his father in his youth that has resulted in an un-addressed Oedipus complex, and therefore sees the death of his father as justified. This repressed state has also been seen in his relationship with Miss Katerina Ivanovna, with whom he has not been able to develop a stable relationship.

 

Gestalt—Ivan was raised in Orthodox Christian Russia during the time of the tsars and the Age of Enlightenment, just before the revolution that would send Russia into a Communist age. Intellectualism is prized, and Ivan is a model of detached intellectualism. His family, on the other hand, is almost entirely his antithesis. He is exasperated, though amused, by their perspectives, and is only taken seriously by his half-brother Smerdyakov and his full-brother Alexi, though each of these is quite different in their reception of him. Smerdyakov sees Ivan as someone from whom he can learn and become more devious. Alexi looks at Ivan as a lost soul who is searching for truth, but who is looking in the wrong place. His father Fyodor simply worries that Ivan is trying to get his money. He has no real connection point in his family.

 

Humanistic—Ivan once thought of himself as being completely in control but has started to feel like the pawn of Smerdyakov and, through his hallucinations, of the devil. He has also lost control of his relationship with Katerina Ivanovna. He cannot determine how to cope with this new position in respect to others and even refused to see his brother Alexi, who is the only one with whom he ever feels a sense of peace.

 

 

 

Anatomical—Ivan should first be treated for any other illnesses that he has contracted. Then he should be put on medication to control the excessive dopamine production that typically occurs with schizophrenia. Should this not work, electroshock therapy may be considered.

 

Behavioral—Aversive conditioning would be highly beneficial for Ivan. He should be placed in an environment that will allow him to model more appropriate behaviors and be rewarded for those behaviors.

 

Cognitive—Ivan’s beliefs and ideas should be addressed. While they may make logical sense, he should test them against reality to develop more adaptive thoughts and ideas.

 

Existential—Group therapy could shed light on inappropriate values Ivan has learned from society and clarify those values which are important. This re-prioritization would allow Ivan to cope with his situation correctly.

 

Freudian—Ivan would benefit from psychoanalytic sessions probing his dreams/hallucinations. He could also benefit from the use of tranquilizers.

 

Gestalt—Role-playing with the surviving members of his family should help to correct Ivan’s sense of reality.

 

Humanistic—Group therapy would allow Ivan to re-evaluate his role in society and find his significance. This renewed sense of self would allow him to pursue a course by which he can actualize his full potential.