Self-destructive behavior is rampant in this book written by John Green. According to psychologists, self-destructive behavior is used as a coping mechanism when you are overwhelmed. In this novel, this type of response is mostly seen in Miles and Alaska. Both have different reasons for this behavior, as well as very different outlets. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Miles Halter is the protagonist. He is depicted as a mostly passive participant in the novel. He's not particularly handsome or interesting, but he lets his new friends drag him into exciting situations. Alaska, for Miles, is a dream. She is passionate, elusive and unpredictable. Alaska is, for him, an unattainable animal that refuses to be caged. His admiration for her is mostly one-dimensional. He likes the attributes she highlights, even if her personality type seems neither natural nor sustainable. Miles seems to be the perfect person to tell the story, as well as the perfect spectator. His self-destructive behavior stems, on the one hand, from the fact that he ultimately falls in love with someone as broken as Alaska. He seems to be blinded by this new personality. On the other hand, another source of self-destruction comes from the fact that he was not very popular in his last school (the farewell party where only two people attended). Suddenly he's part of something and he's not willing to let this opportunity pass him by. His passivity also carries over to his love of biographies, probably the only kind of book a person can't see themselves a part of. Alaska Young has a deep sense of guilt over her mother's death, which she blames herself for, as she was too young to call the police. This is the root of his personality and why he behaves the way he does. She's not unstable, but she's reckless, like someone who knows she's living on borrowed time. «Alaska finished her cigarette and threw it into the river. “Why are you smoking so damn fast?” I asked. He looked at me and smiled widely, and such a wide smile on his narrow face might have seemed silly if it weren't for the unquestionably elegant green of his eyes. He smiled with all the joy of a child on Christmas morning and said, "Everyone smoke to enjoy it." I smoke to die." (Chapter Nine). Smoking is one of the many ways Alaska vents her guilt by punishing herself. This type of behavior is more pronounced in her personality because she is fully aware of what she is doing to herself. This type of act is no different than someone with an eating disorder. She deprives herself of positive things in her life, such as a future. Alaska is special in the sense that she remains detached and cold in a way that not many people manage to do. People sooner or later lose their detachment. For example, having a boyfriend more big who is obviously into her, but who flirts with Miles Self-destructive behavior is seen over and over again among young people today. but some of us may not realize why we act the way we do. Some simply want to feel alive, while others, like Alaska, want to punish themselves. Aside from the most common self-destructive behaviors: suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and substance abuse, there are more subtle behaviors. Smoking, risky sexual behavior, drinking, taking drugs,.