abstinence
Let an agent discuss abstinence neutrally across contexts, provide evidence-based health information without moralising, describe religious and ethical practices with attribution, and explain political abstention.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent discuss abstinence neutrally across contexts, provide evidence-based health information without moralising, describe religious and ethical practices with attribution, and explain political abstention.
The deliberate choice to refrain from an activity, substance or behaviour, such as abstaining from alcohol, drugs, sex, certain foods or digital media, and in politics abstaining from voting or participation; abstinence may be chosen for health, religious, ethical or personal reasons and is studied in health, psychology and political science.
What it is for: Refraining from activities by choice.
It can be explain kinds of abstinence; provide health information on abstinence from substances; describe religious and ethical practices; explain political abstention.
Distinguishing features
Voluntary
Context-specific
Motive varies
Temporary or permanent
What it looks like
Not physical; a chosen behaviour.
How it is recognised
Deliberate refraining
Health, religious, ethical or political motives
Involuntary deprivation is not abstinence
Related models
is a kind of - category
is related to - substance abstinence
is related to - electoral abstention
is related to - wellbeing motives
In practice
Families and kinds
abstinence from alcohol and drugs
sexual abstinence
dietary abstinence and fasting
digital detox and media abstinence
political abstention
Standards and regulation
Public health guidance on alcohol and drugs
Electoral rules on abstention
No regulation of personal choices
Failure modes and hazards
Moralising or stigmatising
Unsafe sudden withdrawal from substances
Confusing abstinence-only messaging with evidence
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Health Abstinence and health.
Evidence and safety.
Substances
Alcohol and drugs.
Substances
Substances.
- What do health authorities say about abstinence from alcohol or drugs, and when is medically supervised withdrawal needed? provenance
- Is the person at risk from sudden withdrawal? boundary
Support
Support for abstinence.
Support
Support.
- Which support services and programmes help people abstain? provenance
- How is abstinence compared with harm reduction, with positions attributed? boundary
Choices Personal and ethical.
Respect choices.
Personal
Personal abstinence.
Personal
Personal choices.
- How can a person plan and maintain a chosen abstinence, such as a digital detox or dietary change? action
- Is the choice respected without moralising? boundary
Religious
Religious abstinence.
Religious
Religious abstinence.
- How do religious traditions describe abstinence practices such as fasting or celibacy, in their own terms? provenance
- Are practices attributed? boundary
Sexual Sexual abstinence.
Evidence and respect.
Information
Health information.
Information
Information.
- What does evidence say about sexual abstinence and about abstinence-only education, according to health bodies? provenance
- Is information given neutrally and age-appropriately? boundary
Choice
Personal choice.
Choice
Choice.
- Is the person choice to abstain respected without judgement? boundary
- Which resources support informed choices? provenance
Politics Abstention.
Political sense.
Electoral
Electoral abstention.
Electoral
Electoral abstention.
- What does abstention mean in this electoral or parliamentary context, and how is it counted? provenance
- What are the debates on abstentionism, attributed to their proponents? boundary
Senses
Other senses.
Senses
Other senses.
- Is abstention from a vote, an avoidance response in psychology or another sense meant? boundary
- Which entry fits? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should each kind be a separate entry?
- How should health guidance be linked?
- How should religious practices be attributed?