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Abstract
The meaning of human development in the article is precisely clarified taking into consideration three theoretical perspectives, which appeared as surprisingly consistent. Theological teaching (e.g. John Paul II, Benedict XVI) underlines the need of appreciating spiritual dimension of human development, which only can guarantee complete and stable development of person, relations and whole community. Parallel perspective using other concepts may be found in some practitioners and theorists within psychology (e.g. Dąbrowski, Miller) showing crucial role of persistent pursuit for integrity in human person’s life. Also applied sociology (e.g. theory of Znaniecki and his followers) complements definition of development underlining the role of social dimension of personal choices and decisions that express important values and remain even beyond average. According to interdisciplinary analysis including mentioned approaches alcohol abstinence may be located in the center of struggling for personal freedom engaged in realisation of love. Such a gift from ourselves transforms human persons and simultaneously also social world they constitute. In the article the trial is taken to point out the outline of some mechanisms of this process both on personal level and in the social horizon. Besides, real examples of social, pedagogical and religious movements including abstinence in their members’ formation are taken into consideration, consequently showing the value of such a conscious attitude towards reality in the context of moral, personal and social human development.