Absenteeism refers to habitual absence from an obligation such as work or school. There are four types of absenteeism: authorized, unauthorized, willful, and those caused by circumstances beyond one's control. Common causes include inability to understand consequences, personality traits, demographics, stress, and lack of interest. Consequences are both costs to individuals and institutions as well as poor student performance. Solutions include positive teacher motivation, incentives, monitoring, counseling, positive expectations, and interesting activities. The document concludes that cures should be tailored to individual cases as causes and consequences can vary significantly.