Human Behaviour Lesson from reading Dostoevsky (Part 1)
Hi guys, today I am gonna share with you some of the insights about human behaviour which I got after reading Dostoevsky. If you have or haven’t read Dostoevsky, it doesn’t matter; this article is for everybody. For those of you who don’t know him (seriously, guys, what’s wrong with you ! )
He is a Russian novelist, philosopher, and journalist, widely regarded in the 18th century & as one of the greatest literary figures in world history. His works delve deep into human psychology, morality, suffering, faith, and existential crisis, making him a key figure in both literature and philosophy.
I got to know him in 2019 from a lecture by Jordan Peterson on personality on YouTube. When I first read him, I didn’t get anything coz the language was difficult for me. But as I read more & more about human behavior, psychology, biology, history, evolutionary biology, etc, it started making sense.
I haven’t come across any writer who has gone this deep into the human mind. I was amazed at how he got all the insight during his time. It’s unbelievable. Now I studied human behaviour by Robert Sapolsky, Darwin, Richard Dawkins, evolutionary psychology, biology, history, anthropology, geography, etc. It’s so easy now, but back then it was difficult. Having said that, later I discovered Dostoyevsky had epilepsy & he himself went through a lot of trauma during his lifetime. He always struggled financially & his work never got recognised during his lifetime. If you wanna know more about him, you can research or probably go through his work.
One book I think everyone should read before they die is “The Brothers of Karmosov” translated by Constantine Gernett or any translation you feel comfortable with. & If you have an Apple product, you can get it for free in iBooks.
Before going to the series, here is a disclaimer: throughout this whole series, you might or might not agree with me, or you could have some idea. That’s totally fine. What I am writing is my point of view. I might be right or might be wrong. If you have anything to add, the comment section is all yours. I will appreciate it.
These insights below are those which you can relate to very easily, cause you have been observing them happening in your society every day. I will try my best to make it as simple as possible & also give you a memory hook to bring back the memory if you have read it, & examples for better understanding. So without further ado, let’s get started……
1. People suffer more from conscience than from punishment.
In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov’s guilt makes him paranoid, feverish, and broken, even though he was not caught right away.
Memory Hook: A man lying in bed, sweating, terrified of his own thoughts.
Example: Someone cheats on an exam or a partner. Even if no one finds out, they can’t sleep at night, replaying it in their mind. like in the movie Shutter Island (2010) – The main character is haunted by guilt over his wife’s fate, gradually breaking down mentally under the weight of his conscience.
2. Rationalization cannot silence moral instinct.
Story: Raskolnikov convinces himself that “great men” can break the law, but after the murder, his instincts rebel.
Memory Hook: A shield of words shattering when blood is spilled.
example: A person justifies workplace theft (“The company is rich, they won’t notice”), but their stomach churns every time they swipe a pen.
In the movie Gone Girl, Amy meticulously rationalizes her revenge against her husband by framing him for her murder. She believes her actions are justified because he “deserved” punishment for betraying her.
The same happens with Walter white in Breaking Bad, making meth to save his family after the discovery of cancer.
3. People crave confession.
Story: Raskolnikov hints about his guilt in conversations with the investigator, as if he wants to be exposed.
Memory Hook: A heavy stone pressing on the chest, longing to be lifted.
example: Kids often “accidentally” reveal mischief (“I didn’t eat all the cookies”) — because the burden of secrecy is heavier than punishment.
In the movie Atonement, Briony falsely accuses someone of a crime as a child, and spends her life yearning to confess, writing and rewriting the story in hopes of cleansing her conscience.
4. Freedom without responsibility destroys meaning.
Story: The Underground Man rejects every rule and duty — his life becomes empty, bitter, and chaotic.
Memory Hook: A boat without an anchor, drifting endlessly.
example: Someone quits their job, avoids commitments, “lives free” — but after a while, feels lost, purposeless, and depressed.
In the movie Fight Club, the narrator begins as a disillusioned corporate worker, but through Tyler Durden, he rebels against all social rules, expectations, and responsibilities. He creates a world where men can be “free” — no jobs, no rules, no commitments, just primal chaos and self-destruction. & In the movie The Wolf of Wall Street, Belfort lives in utter freedom — financially, sexually, ethically — doing whatever he wants without care or consequence.
5. People harm themselves to prove free will.
Story: The Underground Man sabotages relationships to prove he isn’t predictable.
Memory Hook: A child smashing his own toy to yell, “I choose!”
examples: Someone refuses medical advice (“I’ll eat junk if I want!”), even though it worsens their health, just to prove independence.
The classic reference is Hamlet from Shakespeare. His endless indecision and self-sabotage are, paradoxically, a refusal to be controlled. Hamlet delays, doubts, lashes out — often making things worse for himself — to avoid being a pawn in others’ plots.
In the movie Joker, Arthur Fleck sabotages social programs, relationships, and even his chance at mental stability. Why? Because he refuses to be told who he is. His self-destruction is a declaration: “I choose chaos.”
6. Absolute freedom is unbearable without purpose.
Story: Raskolnikov kills “for freedom,” but instead falls into despair.
Memory Hook: A bird freed from its cage but flying into emptiness.
example: Lottery winners who quit everything, then spiral into depression because freedom without goals feels hollow.
In the movie, Into the Wild, Christopher McCandless rejects society and seeks total freedom in nature. At first, it’s euphoric. But soon, freedom turns to isolation, emptiness, and tragedy. His last realization: “Happiness is only real when shared.”. (This is an existential philosophy. like Albert Ksmus type.)
In the Great Gatsby movie, Gatsby has wealth, freedom, and power — but no grounded purpose except chasing an illusion (Daisy). His lifestyle is dazzling but hollow. Freedom, without meaningful love or truth, devours him.
7. Isolation intensifies madness.
Story: The Underground Man cuts off society and deteriorates into paranoia and bitterness.
Memory Hook: A man locked in a room, arguing with shadows.
Example: During lockdowns, many people experienced mental health decline because isolation magnified anxiety and negative thoughts.
In the movie Cast Away, Noland shows how deeply we need social contact to maintain emotional balance. While not a descent into madness, Chuck creates a companion (Wilson the volleyball) to preserve sanity.
8. The line between genius and madness is thin.
Story: Ivan Karamazov’s brilliance collapses into hallucinations of the devil.
Memory Hook: Walking a razor’s edge — brilliance on one side, breakdown on the other.
Example: High-achievers who obsessively overthink (inventors, artists) can tip into burnout, mania, or breakdowns if not grounded.
One of my all-time favorite movies, The Prestige, is about the pursuit of brilliance that eclipses morality and sanity. Two magicians obsess over creating the perfect illusion. Their genius innovations lead to obsession, betrayal, and self-destruction.
In Black Swan, Nina, the deeper she falls into genius-level performance, the more she loses her grip on reality — hallucinations, paranoia, and identity fragmentation follow. A gifted ballet dancer striving for artistic perfection. Hamlet, Brilliant, articulate, philosophical — but spirals into obsession, hallucinations, and emotional paralysis.
9. Suffering reveals the true self.
Story: Dostoevsky himself said Siberian prison transformed him. In his novels, suffering brings characters clarity (Raskolnikov, Dmitri).
Memory Hook: Gold refined in fire.
•example: in the 19th century, German philosopher federick nitche said, “the thing that doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”
breakup, heartbreak, loss of a loved one made them who he is. like Viktor Frankl – Holocaust survivor, psychologist, says, “In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning.” But those who found purpose in their pain survived with dignity.
In Man’s Search for Meaning, he writes how extreme suffering stripped people to their essence — some became beasts, others saints.
10. Humans sometimes crave punishment as cleansing.
Story: Raskolnikov finally confesses and accepts exile, relieved to be punished.
Memory Hook: A sinner kneeling before judgment not to escape, but to be freed.
example: A guilty child blurts out, “Yes, I broke it!” — relief floods once the truth is out and the punishment accepted.
In Greek mythology, Orestes in Greek Myth He doesn’t resist trial or judgment — instead, he accepts it as necessary to end the curse. After killing his mother (in revenge), the Furies torment Orestes. Another example is the very famous Catholic Confession. The act of confessing sins, being absolved, and receiving penance shows that humans instinctively seek cleansing through truth + consequence.
Now this was part 1 of the 10-part series. Share your thoughts in the comments & also share your stories where you have encountered these insights in your life, we would love to know about your perspective and story here..
