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A comparison of personal and social factors identified with selected members of Alcoholics Anonymous

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A COMPARISON OF .PERSONAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS IDENTIFIED WITH SELECTED MEMBERS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

A T h e sis P re se n te d to t h e F a c u l t y o f t h e D e p a r tm e n t o f S o c i o l o g y U n iv e r s ity o f S o u th e rn C a lif o r n ia

In P a r t ia l F u lfillm e n t o f t h e R e q u ir e m e n t s f o r t h e D e g re e M a ste r o f A rts

t>y W i l l i a m W a r r e n L ahey A u g u s t 1950

UMI Number: EP65693

All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion.

Dissertation Publishing

UMI EP65693 Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code

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S o

'* 7

This thesis, written by

................ WILLIMWARRS^

.................

under the guidance of h .!.S __Facult y Com mitte e, and a p p r o v e d by all its members, has been presented to and acce pted by the Council on Graduate S t u d y and Research in partial fulfill­ ment of the requirements f o r the degree of

MASTER OF ARTS

D a te

A u g u st 1950

Faculty Committee ..... Chairman

TABLE OP COMMENTS CHAPTER

I.

PAGE

INTRODUCTION . . .........................................................................

1

The p r o b l e m .............................................................................

1

S t a t e m e n t o f t h e p r o b le m . . ..................................

1

I m p o r ta n c e o f t h e s t u d y ............................................

1

D e f i n i t i o n o f t e r m s u s e d .................................................

13

A l c o h o l ...........................................

13

A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous .....................................................

13

A l c o h o l i s m ................................................

14

A t t i t u d e ..................................................................................

14

G roup P r o c e s s ....................................................................

14

M o t i v a t i o n ..........................................................

14

P erso n al c h a r a c te r is tic

............................................

15

P ersonal d iso rg a n iz a tio n

. . .

15

.............................

P r i m a r y g r o u p .............................................................. . .

15

R e h a b ilita tio n

....................................................................

15

S l i p ............................................................................................

15

S o c ia l a t t i t u d e

16

. . . . . .

S o c ia l c h a r a c te r is tic S o c ia l co n scio u sn ess S o c ia l e x p e c ta n c y S o c ia l p a tte r n

. .

16

..................................................... . . . .

....................................................................

S o c ia l re o rg a n iz a tio n

.................................................

16 16 16 16

iii CHAPTER

PAGE

S o c i a l s e l f ................................................................ S o c ia l v a lu e s S u ccessfu l

.................... . . . . . . . . . .

. . . .

.............................

. . . . . .

IV . V.

17 17

............................................

18

S ta te m e n t of o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t o c h a p te r s

III.

17

U n s u c c e s s f u l ......................................................................... A R eview o f r e l a t e d s t u d i e s

II.

17

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN FOR THIS STUDY .

. . .

2k

....................

HISTORY AND TECHNIQUES OF ALCOHOLICSANONYMOUS

25

.

31

ANALYSIS OF D A T A ................................ “. . . ' ..........................

k6

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . . . .

86

S u m m a r y ................................................ C o n c l u s i o n s ..................................................................... R e c o m m e n d a t i o n s ........................ BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................. APPENDIX . . . . . . . .

.....................................................

86 90

96 99 104

LIST OP TABLES TABLE

I.

PAGE

B reakdow n o f 210 m ale members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous i n t o two s u b - g r o u p s , b y l e n g t h o f m em b ersh ip a n d s o b r i e t y

II.

..................................

47

A v e ra g e a g e s o f tw o g r o u p s o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous members a t tim e o f i n t e r v i e w a n d a t t im e o f m a r r i a g e .................................................

III.

49

M a r i t a l s t a t u s o f 210 m a le members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber an d p e rc e n ta g e of

IV .

e a c h s u b - g r o u p ................................

51

E d u c a t i o n a l a c h i e v e m e n t o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber a n d p e rc e n ta g e of

V.

e a c h s u b - g r o u p ...............................

5^

T y p es o f s c h o o l s a t t e n d e d b y 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y n um ber an d p e rc e n ta g e of

V I.

e a c h s u b - g r o u p ...............................

C h u rc h a t t e n d a n c e o f

55

210 members o f

A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber a n d p e rc en ta g e of V II.

e a c h s u b - g r o u p ...............................

57

P re fe rre d r e c r e a tio n a l a c t i v i t i e s re p o rte d b y 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous a c c o r d i n g t o num ber o f r e s p o n s e s and p e rc e n ta g e of

e a c h s u b - g r o u p ...............................

59

V TABLE

V III.

PAGE

L e is u r e tim e p a r t i c i p a t i o n in A lc o h o lic s Anonymous p ro g r a m a s r e p o r t e d b y 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber o f r e s p o n s e s a n d p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b - g r o u p ....................................................................

IX .

6l

C h o ices o f r e a d in g m a t e r i a l a s r e p o r t e d by 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber o f r e s p o n s e s a n d p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b - g r o u p .........................................................

X.

62

O c c u p a t io n s o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber a n d p e r c e n t a g e o f each sub-group

X I.

.

..........................................................

63

O c c u p a t i o n a l m o b i l i t y o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, by num ber an d p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b - g r o u p ..................................

X II.

65

H o u s in g s t a t u s o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, by num ber a n d p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b - g r o u p ....................................................................

X III.

66

R e s i d e n t i a l m o b i l i t y o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber a n d p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b - g r o u p ..................................

XIV .

67

A v e ra g e num ber o f d e p e n d e n t s , a v e r a g e m o n th ly in c o m e , a n d a v e r a g e home p a y m e n ts o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous

. . .

69

vi TABLE

XV.

PAGE

L e n g th o f r e s i d e n c e i n S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, by num ber a n d p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b ­ group

X VI.

.......................................................................................

JO

P l a c e s o f O r i g i n o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber a n d p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b - g r o u p ............................................................

X V II.

72

C i t i z e n s h i p a n d v o t i n g r e c o r d o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber and p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b - g r o u p ..........................

X V III.

73

A t t i t u d e t o w a rd d r i n k i n g o f im m e d ia te f a m i l y o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous . . .

XIX.

7^

T re a tm e n t f o r a lc o h o lis m i n I n s t i t u t i o n s a s r e p o r t e d b y 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y nu m ber o f r e s p o n s e s an d p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b - g r o u p ..........................

XX.

J6

S o c i a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous c o m p ared b e f o r e and a f t e r j o i n i n g A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, by num ber o f r e s p o n s e s a n d p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b - g r o u p ........................................................................

XXI.

.

77

F i r s t c o n t a c t s w i t h A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous b y 210 m em bers, b y num ber a n d p e r c e n t a g e i n e a c h s u b - g r o u p ............................................................

79

v ii TABLE

X X II.

PAGE

M e m b ersh ip , a t t e n d a n c e , a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous m e e t i n g s o f 210 m em bers, b y num ber a n d p e r c e n t a g e o f e a c h s u b - g r o u p ....................................................................

X X III.

82

S o b r i e t y r e c o r d o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber a n d p e rc e n ta g e of

XXIV.

e a c h s u b - g r o u p .........................

8^

P r e s e n t s o c i a l a d j u s t m e n t o f 210 members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, b y num ber a n d p e rc en ta g e of

each su b-group . . . . . . . .

85

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION S ta te m e n t o f th e p ro b le m .

The p u r p o s e o f t h i s s t u d y

i s t o d e te rm in e i f c e r t a i n p e r s o n a l and s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r ­ i s t i c s a r e a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e a c h iev e m e n t o f s o b r i e t y o f s e l e c t e d members o f A l c o h o l i c s A nonym ous.

I t has been

n o t e d t h a t some i n d i v i d u a l s a c h i e v e t h i s s o b r i e t y upon t h e i r f i r s t c o n t a c t w i t h A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous w h i l e o t h e r s a r e s u c c e s s f u l o n l y a f t e r n um erous r e l a p s e s a n d s t i l l

o th e rs

f a i l c o m p le te ly in t h e i r a tte m p t to a t t a i n t h e i r s o b r i e ty . I t i s h o p e d , t h r o u g h t h i s i n q u i r y , t h a t c e r t a i n p e r s o n a l and so c ia l c h a ra c te ris tic s w ill d if f e r e n tia te s ig n ific a n tly be­ tw e e n t h o s e p e r s o n s who a r e s u c c e s s f u l a n d t h o s e who a r e u n su c c e ss fu l.

I n t h i s way t h e c o m p a r a t i v e d i f f i c u l t y o f

i n d i v i d u a l s m ig h t b e a n t i c i p a t e d a s t h e y come i n c o n t a c t w i t h A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous. Im p o rta n ce o f th e s t u d y .

A l c o h o l i s m i s a p r o b l e m on

w h ic h t h e r e i s b o t h i n f o r m a t i o n and c o n f u s i o n .

I t i s an

im p o r ta n t p ro b lem b i o l o g i c a l l y , s o c i a l l y and e c o n o m ic a lly . A l c o h o l i c s come fro m a l l c l a s s e s o f s o c i e t y . n o t seem t o p l a y t h e m a j o r p a r t .

R e la tiv e in te llig e n c e

d o e s n o t seem t o e x p l a i n a l c o h o l i s m . p ro b lem .

H e re d ity does

I t i s a c o m p lic a te d

I n some c a s e s m o r a l s a n d s o c i a l h a b i t s a r e

p ro b a b le f a c t o r s . and m e d ic a l p ro b le m .

The a l e o h o l i e t o d a y I s a s e r i o u s s o c i a l A lth o u g h th e I n f lu e n c e o f a lc o h o lis m

on c r i m e a n d t h e f a m i l y h a s d o u b t l e s s b e e n e x a g g e r a t e d , a l c o h o l i c s f o r m a l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e o f t h o s e p a t i e n t s ad*~ m ltte d t o m en tal h o s p i t a l s .

T h i s c u l t u r e I s one w h ic h i s

c o n s t a n t l y p u t t i n g a s t r a i n on t h e i n d i v i d u a l .

In se c u rity

a n d i n e q u a l i t y a r e r a m p a n t and. t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r s u c ­ c e s s a r e d i m i n i s h i n g a t a tim e when a m b i t i o n i s o v e r s tim u la te d .

E co n o m ics a n d s o c i a l d e m o c ra c y h a v e l a g g e d

som ewhat b e h i n d p o l i t i c a l d e m o c r a c y , r e s u l t i n g i n s l u m s , u n e m p lo y m e n t, l a b o r s t r i f e , a n d f a m i l y d i s o r g a n i z a t i o n . War h a s a d d e d t r e m e n d o u s l y t o t h e m o u n tin g t o l l o f f r u s t r a ­ t i o n , b i t t e r n e s s , and f a i l u r e .

I n a c u l t u r e w h e re s u c c e s s

i s u s u a l l y m e a s u re d i n t e r m s o f eco n o m ic h a l l m a r k s , t h e g r e a t e r p a r t o f th e p o p u la tio n i s fac ed w ith f a i l u r e o r m e d io c rity re g a rd le s s of t h e i r t a l e n t s .

A m o u n tin g p a n a c e a

f o r t h e s e eco n o m ic a n d s o c i a l a n o m a l i e s h a s b e e n f o r some a s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s i n g r e s o r t t o a l c o h o l t o l o s e f o r a few h o u rs th e sen se o f p e rs o n a l f a i l u r e , f r u s t r a t i o n of d e s ir e o r f e e l i n g s o f i n f e r i o r i t y and t h w a r t i n g . A lc o h o l e x i s t e d i n n a tu r e a s a p a r t o f th e l i v i n g p r o c e s s i n p l a n t and a n im a l l i f e man.

l o n g b e f o r e t h e com ing o f

A t d i f f e r e n t t i m e s i n t h e p a s t p r i m i t i v e men i n

v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d made t h i s d i s c o v e r y and w e re q u i c k t o t a k e t o i t a n d im p ro v e upon i t .

A lc o h o lic

b e v e r a g e s w e re a l m o s t a s i m p o r t a n t i n t h e l i f e

of p rim itiv e

man a s i n t h a t o f m odern man s i n c e t h e y e n a b l e d h im t o e s c a p e fr o m c o n s t a n t t h r e a t s o f h i s h o s t i l e w o r l d .

P rim i­

t i v e man h a n d e d down t o h i s m odern h e i r s a n a l c o h o l i c t r a d i t i o n t h a t l e g i s l a t i o n a lo n e h as n o t been a b le to con­ tro l.

E a r l y la w s w e re d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s

of e x c e ssiv e d rin k in g r a th e r th a n a t d rin k in g i t s e l f . C anons a d o p t e d b y t h e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n c h u r c h w e re d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t d r u n k e n n e s s a s d r i n k i n g was n o t r e g a r d e d a s s i n f u l . F o l l o w i n g t h e P r o t e s t a n t R e f o r m a t i o n , c o n d e m n a tio n o f d r i n k i n g b y t h e C h r i s t i a n c h u r c h a s s i n f u l a n d im m o ral came in to vogue. Up u n t i l t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y , w i n e , b e e r a n d a l e s a t i s f i e d m ost o f t h e w a n ts o f t h e p e o p l e f o r a l c o h o l i c bev erag es.

T h e r e w e re e x c e s s e s , b u t n o t o f t h e s e r i o u s n e s s

a n d v a r i e t y w h ic h came l a t e r .

When t h e a r t o f d i s t i l l a t i o n

becam e a n i n d u s t r y , t h e s e e x c e s s e s b ecam e a m a t t e r o f p u b l i c c o n cern .

f,The f i r s t a s p e c t s o f o u r p r e s e n t a l c o h o l dilem m a

p r o b a b l y d a t e fro m t h e s e e a r l i e s t d i s t i l l i n g d a y s . ” -*was t h e n t h a t t h e b re a k d o w n i n f a m i l y l i f e ,

It

lic e n tio u sn e ss,

a n d p u b l i c i n e b r i e t y becam e commonly a s s o c i a t e d .

The

U n i t e d S t a t e s , f o u n d e d a t t h e t im e when d i s t i l l a t i o n was

^ J o s e p h H i r s h , The P ro b le m D r i n k e r (New Y o rk : Due 1-1, S lo a n and P e a rc e , 1 9 4 9 ), p . 2 5 .

■becoming a n i m p o r t a n t i n d u s t r i a l p r o c e s s i n o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d , s o o n becam e known a s a " h a l ’d l i q u o r " d r i n k i n g n a tio n .

C h u rc h law d e f i n e d d r u n k e n n e s s a s a s i n a n d i t was

p r e c i s e l y i n t h o s e t e r m s t h a t i t was t r a n s l a t e d i n t o s e c u l a r law t o r e m a in p r a c t i c a l l y u n c h a n g e d t o t h i s d a t e . T hroughout th e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y , d r in k in g e x c e s s e s i n t h i s c o u n t r y i n c r e a s e d , b u t t h e s o c i a l a t t i t u d e s r e m a in e d i n t h e t r a d i t i o n of th e P u r i t a n s .

The few e f f o r t s t o b r e a k away

f ro m t h e m o r a l i s t i c t r a d i t i o n o f t h e p a s t b y h u m a n i t a r i a n s , r e f o r m e r s , a n d p h y s i c i a n s w e re doomed t o f a i l u r e . V a r i o u s s o c i a l m ovem ents h a v e b e e n i n i t i a t e d

in th e

U n i t e d S t a t e s i n a n a t t e m p t t o a l l e v i a t e t h e p r o b le m s c o n ­ n e c te d w ith e x c e ssiv e d r in k in g .

Most o f t h e s e h a v e aim ed

a t th e a b o l i t i o n o f th e use of a lc o h o lic b e v e ra g e s .

The

" t e m p e r a n c e m ovem ent" i s u s u a l l y s a i d t o h a v e b e g u n i n 1785 w i t h t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e h i s t o r i c d o c u m e n t, The E f f e c t s o f A r d e n t S p i r i t s on t h e Human Body a n d Mind b y D r . B e n ja m in Rush In th e e a r ly y e a rs of th e n in e te e n th c e n tu ry , th e t e m p e r a n c e movement was e s s e n t i a l l y p h i l a n t h r o p i c .

I t a ls o

h a d a n I n t e l l e c t u a l a p p e a l , a im e d a t t h e c o r r e c t i o n o f so c ia l e v ils .

2

The t e m p e r a n c e movement was fo u n d e d on t h e

A r e p r i n t o f t h i s c l a s s i c ap p eared In Q u a rte rly J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s on A l c o h o l . IV ( S e p t e m b e r , 1943) p p . 32 1-341.

a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f t h e p e r f e c t a b i l i t y o f human n a tu re .

I t d id n o t have th e d r iv e of a m i l i t a n t reform

movement a n d d i d n o t c o n c e r n i t s e l f w i t h t h e p r a c t i c a l ap p ro ach o f p o p u la r a c t i v i t i e s .

In 1808, what i s g e n e r a l l y

r e c o g n i z e d a s t h e f i r s t te m p e r a n c e s o c i e t y i n t h e w orld, t h e U n io n T e m p era n ce S o c i e t y o f Morean a n d N o r th u m b e r la n d was o rg a n iz e d .

The t e m p e r a n c e movement i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

reach ed a peak in th e f i r s t h a l f of th e n in e te e n th c e n tu r y . The w ork o f t h e movement was p u b l i c i z e d t h r o u g h e l e v e n w e e k ly a n d m o n th ly j o u r n a l s d e v o t e d s o l e l y t o t e m p e r a n c e . The y e a r s b e tw e e n 1840 a n d 1850 saw t h e e m e rg e n c e o f t e m p e r a n c e s o c i e t i e s w h ic h o r i g i n a t e d a s s o c i a l and f r a t e r ­ n a l o rg a n iz a tio n s.

W h ile some o f t h e s e w e re o f o n l y l o c a l

i n t e r e s t , a num ber o f them grew t o n a t i o n a l s c o p e and in flu e n c e .

The n e x t d e v e lo p m e n t o f a n y s i g n i f i c a n c e an d

l a s t i n g i n f l u e n c e was t h e o r i g i n o f t h e W a s h i n g t o n i a n move­ m ent .

T h i s movement was f o u n d e d i n B a l t i m o r e i n 1840 an d

b y 1841 i t h a d a t l e a s t 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 p l e d g e s .

The S o c i e t y was

f i l l e d w ith a n e v a n g e l i c a l z e a l and h e ld i t s m e e tin g s w ith t h e d o u b l e a im o f g e t t i n g t e m p e r a n c e p l e d g e s s i g n e d a n d o f s o b e r i n g up t h e i n e b r i a t e s .

P e c u lia r c h a r a c te r is tic s of

t h i s movement w e r e : 'F i r s t , a t o t a l a b stin e n c e p led g e . The i d e a o f a ' p a r t i a l p l e d g e seem s n e v e r t o h a v e e n t e r e d t h e m inds of th e se h o n est fe llo w s . Second, t e l l i n g to o th e rs w h a t t h e y h a d known b y e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e e v i l s o f i n t e m p e r a n c e a n d o f t h e good w h ic h t h e y f e l t fro m

6 e n tir e a b stin e n c e . T hey knew b u t one way t o r i d t h e w o r l d o f e v i l , a n d t h a t was t o s t r i k e d i r e c t l y a t i t s ro o t. T hey knew , t o o , i f o t h e r s c o u l d know a s t h e y d i d o f t h e s u f f e r i n g w h ic h r e s u l t e d fro m t h e c u s to m o f d r i n k i n g , t h e y w o uld r e n o u n c e f o r e v e r t h i s d e s t r u c t i v e h a b it.3 I t was a v o w e d ly a s o c i e t y o f r e f o r m e d d r u n k a r d s a n d a t f i r s t l i m i t e d t h e p ro g r a m s o f i t s m e e t i n g s l a r g e l y t o f,t e s t i m o n i ~ a l s ” f ro m t h e i r own n u m b e r.

By 1 8 4 3 , t h e W a s h i n g t o n i a n

S o c i e t y was a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y i n a c t i v e , b u t c r e d i t f o r t h i s f a c t m u st b e g i v e n : More t h a n a n y o t h e r g r o u p t h e y drew p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n t o t h e i n e b r i a t e a s a s i c k man, i n n e e d o f k i n d n e s s a n d w holesom e m e d i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l c a r e . T hey l a i d t h e g ro u n d w o rk upon w h ic h a l l s i m i l a r movem ents o f l a t e r d a t e h a v e b u i l t t h e i r s t r u c t u r e s a n d t h e i r p r o g r a m s .4 Numerous o t h e r g r o u p s s p r a n g up u n d e r t h e d i r e c t s t i m u l a t i o n o f t h e W a s h i n g t o n i a n S o c i e t y among w h ic h w ere t h e Sons o f T e m p e ra n c e , t h e T em ple o f H o n o r, t h e O rd e r o f Good T e m p l a r s , t h e C a d e t s o f T e m p e ra n c e , a n d t h e Bands o f H ope.

T y p i c a l o f t h e s e was t h e Sons o f T e m p e ra n c e .

The members d e c l a r e d t h e y w e re j o i n e d t o g e t h e r f o r s e l f - p r o t e c t i o n by t o t a l a b s t in e n c e . T hey a g r e e d t o p r o v i d e m u tu a l a s s i s t a n c e t o one a n o t h e r i n t im e o f i l l n e s s and to e n co u rag e s e l f c u l t u r e by th e e l e v a t i o n o f c h a r a c t e r a n d t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f q u a l i f i c a t i o n s f o r t h e d u t i e s o f A m e ric a n c i t i z e n s h i p . T hey s o u g h t t o p r o v i d e a n a c t i v e s o c i a l l i f e w h ic h was n o n - s e c t a r i a n

3 F r a n c i s W. McPeek, L e c t u r e 2 6 , f,The R o le o f R e lig io u s B o d ies i n th e T re a tm e n t o f I n e b r i t y in th e U n ite d S t a t e s , ” A l c o h o l , S c i e n c e a n d S o c i e t y (New H aven: Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s on A l c o h o l , 1945)# P* 4 0 9 • ^ I b i d ., p . 411.

and n o n - p a r t i s a n . Among t h e i r d e c l a r e d a im s was t h e su p p re ssio n of th e liq u o r t r a f f i c . 5 The s e c o n d h a l f o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y was m arked by a n e ra of s o c i a l refo rm and th e b e g in n in g o f w id e sp re a d i n t e r e s t i n p r o b le m s o f human r e l a t i o n s i n t h i s c o u n t r y . The a b i l i t y o f women t o o r g a n i z e , a d m i n i s t e r , a n d p ro m o te a p r o g r a m o f s o c i a l r e f o r m was d e m o n s t r a t e d i n t h e i r e f f o r t s in s u p p o r t o f tem p eran ce e d u c a ti o n .

An outcom e o f t h i s

a c t i v i t y was t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i n 187^ o f t h e Woman1s C h r i s t i a n T em p era n ce U n io n .

The s c o p e o f t h e p r o g r a m i s

in d ic a te d in th e fo llo w in g p le d g e : We t h e r e f o r e f o r m u l a t e a n d f o r o u r s e l v e s a d o p t t h e f o l l o w i n g p l e d g e : 111 h e r e b y s o l e m n l y p r o m i s e , God h e l p ­ i n g me, t o a b s t a i n fr o m a l l d i s t i l l e d , f e r m e n t e d , an d m a l t l i q u o r s , i n c l u d i n g w i n e , b e e r , c i d e r , a n d t o em­ p l o y a l l p r o p e r means t o d i s c o u r a g e t h e u s e o f a n d t r a f f i c i n t h e s a m e .” To c o n fo rm a n d e n f o r c e t h e r a t i o n a l o f t h i s p l e d g e , we d e c l a r e o u r p u r p o s e t o e d u c a t e t h e y o u n g ; t o fo r m a b e t t e r p u b lic se n tim e n t; to refo rm a s f a r a s p o s s ib l e , by r e l i g i o u s , e t h i c a l , an d s c i e n t i f i c m e a n s, t h e d r i n k ­ in g c l a s s e s ; t o se ek th e tr a n s f o r m in g pow er o f d i v i n e g r a c e f o r o u r s e l v e s a n d f o r a l l whom we w o r k . 6 The Woman*s C h r i s t i a n T e m p era n ce U n io n d e v e l o p e d a c o m p re ­ h e n s i v e p r o g ra m w i t h t h e e m p h a s is l a i d on t e m p e r a n c e m ass m e e tin g s , m edal c o n t e s t s , c o n c e r t s , p o s t e r s , e x h i b i t s , and

^ Raymond G. M cC arthy a n d E d g a r M. D o u g l a s s , A l c o h o l a n d S o c i a l R e s p o n s i b i l i t y (Wew Y o rk : Thomas Y. C r o w e l l Com­ pany and Y ale P la n C l i n i c , 1 9 ^ 9 ), p p , 2 5 - 2 6 . Ib id .. p . 30.

th e c i r c u la t io n o f q u a n titie s of in fo rm a tio n . to in flu e n c e l e g i s l a t i v e ,

I t sought

s o c i a l , and r e l i g i o u s a c t i v i t i e s

a n d h a s c a r r i e d on a s u s t a i n e d d r i v e t o b r i n g a b o u t a m o d i­ f i c a t i o n o f s o c i a l a t t i t u d e s w h ic h w o u ld c u l m i n a t e i n p r o h i b i t i o n , b a s e d on t h e v i e w p o i n t t h a t t h e o n l y p r o b le m i s a lc o h o l and t h e o n ly s o l u t i o n i s p r o h i b i t i o n . P r i o r t o t h e F i r s t W orld War t h e r e d e v e l o p e d a v a r y ­ i n g s c a l e o f i n d i v i d u a l a t t i t u d e s i n s u p p o r t o f some fo rm of p ro h ib itio n .

The c o n c e p t o f p r o h i b i t i o n was n o t new

a n d s u c h a d e v e lo p m e n t was n o t u n i q u e d u r i n g t h e f i r s t two decades of th e tw e n tie th c e n tu ry .

I t had b een p u b l ic i z e d

f o r h a l f a c e n t u r y a n d e v e n a d o p t e d i n many s e c t i o n s o f t h e c o u n try .

The a c t i v e m a j o r i t y o f t e m p e r a n c e g r o u p s a d v o ­

c a t e d a p r o h i b i t i o n amendment t o t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s .

T h e r e was no o r g a n i z e d g r o u p t o l e a d a n

o p p o s i t i o n s i n c e t h e m a j o r i t y o f p e o p l e w e re n e i t h e r Hw e t ,f n o r Md r y . ,f

The u n i t e d e f f o r t s o f t h e s e t e m p e r a n c e g r o u p s

t o c o n t r o l c o n s u m p ti o n o f a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s r e s u l t e d i n t h e p a s s a g e o f t h e E i g h t e e n t h Amendment b y t h e H ouse a n d t h e S e n a t e i n D ecem ber 1 9 1 7 .

I t was r a t i f i e d b y t h i r t y - s i x

s t a t e l e g i s l a t u r e s b y J a n u a r y 1 6 , 1 9 1 9 , a n d becam e e f f e c t i v e one y e a r l a t e r . The E i g h t e e n t h Amendment was i n t e n d e d t o b e a r e f o r m a n d s o m e th i n g o f a p a n a c e a t o t h e s o c i a l i l l s

of a n a tio n .

I t was n o t p r o p o s e d n o r p a s s e d b e c a u s e o f s c i e n t i f i c

c u r i o s i t y and y e t t h e r e h a s n e v e r h een e i t h e r a m e d ic a l o r p s y c h o l o g i c a l e x p e r i m e n t on s o l a r g e a s c a l e .

I t s su b je c ts

num bered m i l l i o n s , i t s d u r a t i o n more t h a n a d e c a d e .

N e ith e r

t h e p r o p a g a n d a n o r t h e p o l i t i c a l m o t i v a t i o n w h ic h l e d t o t h i s amendment was aim ed a t t h e o c c a s i o n a l o r m o d e s t d r i n k e r . The avowed g o a l o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n was t h e a l c o h o l i c , t h e h a b i t u a l d r i n k e r who f e l l down on t h e j o b i f h e h a d o n e , who f i l l e d t h e c i t y and c o u n t y j a i l s , a n d who c a u s e d h i s fa m ily u n to ld m ise ry . The a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e P r o h i b i t i o n Amendment t u r n e d o u t t o be a d i f f i c u l t p r o b le m and was n e v e r s u c c e s s ­ fu l.

Many e x p l a n a t i o n s h a v e b e e n a d v a n c e d a s t o t h e f a i l ­

u re of P r o h i b i ti o n , in c lu d in g in a d e q u a te law s, in a d e q u a te e n fo rc e m e n t, and c o r r u p t i o n i n p u b lic o f f i c e .

11I t c a n n o t

b e d o u b t e d t h a t one I n g r e d i e n t w h ic h w ould b e e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e s u c c e s s f u l e n f o r c e m e n t o f a p r o h i b i t i o n law was t h a t u l t i m a t e l y l a c k i n g — p o p u l a r s u p p o r t .”7

O r g a n iz e d o p p o s i ­

t i o n t o t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f t h e E i g h t e e n t h Amendment b e g a n e v e n b e f o r e t h e law becam e o p e r a t i v e .

The s e n t i m e n t f o r

a p p e a l r e a c h e d a h i g h p o i n t d u r i n g 1931 a n d becam e a p o l i t i ­ c a l i s s u e in th e p r e s i d e n t i a l e l e c t i o n o f 1932.

The

T w e n t y - f i r s t Amendment becam e a law on D ecem ber 5 , 1933> a n d th e p r o h ib itio n e ra ended. The t e m p e r a n c e movement r e p r e s e n t e d t h r e e b a s i c

7 I b i d . . p . 37

10 c o n c e p t s fr o m t h e b e g i n n i n g a n d t h e y h a v e b e e n p r o m i n e n t ev er sin c e : ( 1 ) R e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e s e r i o u s com m unity o u tc ro p p in g s o f a lc o h o l and i t s b e v e ra g e c o n s u m p ti o n ; (2 ) th e s tre n g th e n in g of in d iv id u a ls in s o c i a l g r o u p s , a n d b y k n o w le d g e a n d r e ­ l ig i o n , to w ith sta n d th e a t t r a c t i o n s of a l c o h o l a n d i t s e x c e s s e s ; an d ( 3 ) a n o rg a n iz e d e f f o r t t o re d u c e and t o rem ove s o u r c e s o f i n t e m p e r a n c e , t o “do s o m e th in g ,M a s c o n tr a s te d w ith th e a t t i t u d e o f t h o s e who d i d n o t c o n c e r n t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s .8 H ow ever, i t m u st b e e m p h a s iz e d t h a t t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e t e m p e r a n c e m ovem ent, c u l m i n a t i n g i n t h e p a s s i n g an d r e p e a l ­ i n g o f t h e E i g h t e e n t h Amendment, made v e r y l i t t l e

pro g ress

i n d e a l i n g w i t h t h e p r o b le m s o f a l c o h o l i s m and t h e a lc o h o lic . In th e lo n g y e a rs o f a tte m p ts to c o n tr o l th e p ro b ­ lem s o f i n t e m p e r a n c e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y m o r a l s u a s i o n a n d b y p o l i t i c a l p r o h i b i t i o n o f t h e m a n u fa c ­ t u r e a n d s a l e o f a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s , one f a c t r e m a in s c le a r. The p r o b le m s a r e s t i l l w i t h u s .9 A s u b s t a n t i a l p o r t i o n o f t h e p e o p l e , a b o u t 65 p e r c e n t o f th e a d u lt p o p u la tio n o f th e U n ited S t a t e s , use ]

a lc o h o lic b ev erag es.

“Y a le U n i v e r s i t y s c i e n t i s t s e s t i m a t e

t h a t t h e r e a r e 3 >750>000 e x c e s s i v e d r i n k e r s , o u t o f t h e

8

H a r r y S . W a r n e r , F r a n c i s W. McPeek, a n d E . M. J e l l i n e k , L e c t u r e 1 9 , “P h i l o s o p h y o f t h e T em p era n ce Move­ m e n t,” A lc o h o l, S c ie n c e and S o c i e t y , p p . 269- 2 7 0 . 9 McCarthy, o p . c i t . , p . 4 1 .

11 6 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 c o n s u m e rs o f a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s , i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o d a y . ”10 a lc o h o lic s.

Of t h e s e . 7 5 0 ,0 0 0 may b e c o n s i d e r e d a 3

The p r o b l e m i s t h e n one n o t o n l y o f m a g n itu d e

b u t a l s o one t h a t i s c o m p l i c a t e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h o s e who u s e a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s do n o t become a lc o h o lic s. Many s o l u t i o n s o f t h e p r o b le m o f a l c o h o l i s m h a v e b e e n su g g e ste d .

H o w ev er, d u e t o t h e c o m p l e x i t y o f t h e o r i g i n

and s t r u c t u r e o f su ch a s o c i a l p ro b le m , a tt e m p t s a t i t s c o r r e c t i o n w h ic h t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t o n l y one o r two s u r f a c e fa c to rs a re of l i t t l e

use.

The s o l u t i o n i s n o t t o b e fo u n d

a lo n e in m e d ic a l, s o c i a l , l e g a l , e d u c a tio n a l, o r r e l i g io u s fie ld s.

The s o l u t i o n i n c l u d e s a l l o f t h e s e , b u t e a c h i s

o n ly a f a c t o r .

The p r o b le m i s f u r t h e r c o m p l i c a t e d b y t h e

f a c t t h a t s o c ie ty g e n e r a lly a c c e p ts th e use of a lc o h o l a s a m ethod o f m ak in g s o c i a l l i f e m ore p l e a s a n t . tr u e th ro u g h o u t h i s t o r y .

T h is h as been

Shy an d s e l f - c o n s c i o u s p e o p l e

o f t e n c l a i m t h a t a l c o h o l e n a b l e s th em t o i n t e r a c t f r e e l y w ith o t h e r s .

T hus t h e a l c o h o l i c f i n d s h i m s e l f a c t u a l l y

encouraged to d r in k u n t i l he s in k s t o such d e p th s as to make h im s o c i a l l y o b n o x i o u s . Of a l l t h e a t t a c k s on t h e p r o b le m o f a l c o h o l i s m , t h e one l a u n c h e d b y t h e a l c o h o l i c s t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e i r

10 H i r s h , o £ . c i t . , p . 8 6 .

f e l l o w s h i p o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous h a s b e e n t h e m o st s u c ­ c e ss fu l.

flAs f a r a s t h e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f t h e a l c o h o l i c

i s c o n c e r n e d , t h e r e i s no t h e r a p e u t i c a c t i v i t y w h ic h comes n e a r t o th e s u c c e s s t h a t t h i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y group h a s a c h ie v e d ." ^

The p u b l i c i t y a n d t h e r e s u l t i n g p u b l i c s u p ­

p o r t a c c o r d e d t h i s f e l l o w s h i p h a s l e d many t o b e l i e v e t h a t it

i s t h e an sw er t o th e p ro b lem .

W ith t h i s i n m in d , t h e

p h y s i c i a n , th e ju d g e , t h e c le rg y m a n , t h e r e l a t i v e , and th e h o u s e w i f e t u r n t h e i r problem s .d r in k e r o v e r t o A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous a n d t h e n s i t b a c k a n d w a i t f o r t h e e x p e c t e d r e ­ su lts.

T h is i s done w ith l i t t l e

a w a r e n e s s a s t o w h at

f a c t o r s m ig h t b e o p e r a t i n g w h ic h r e s u l t i n some i n d i v i d u a l s m ak in g a s u c c e s s f u l a d j u s t m e n t w h i l e o t h e r s a r e u n a b l e t o do s o . Of t h o s e s i n c e r e l y w i l l i n g t o s t o p d r i n k i n g a b o u t f i f t y p e r c e n t h av e done so a t o n c e, tw e n ty - f i v e p e r c e n t a f t e r a few r e l a p s e s , a n d m o st o f t h e r e m a i n d e r h a v e im p r o v e d . T h e r e a r e v e r y few s t u d i e s a v a i l a b l e on t h e A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous p r o g r a m .

When t h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s p r o g r a m a r e

com pared w i t h t h o s e o f o t h e r s o c i a l , r e l i g i o u s , m e d i c a l , p s y c h o l o g i c a l , a n d l e g i s l a t i v e e f f o r t s i t loom s a s a f o r c e

E. M. J e l l i n e k , L e c t u r e 1 , " I n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e C u r r i c u l u m , 11 A l c o h o l , S c i e n c e a n d S o c i e t y , p . 1 2 . 12 " B a s i c C o n c e p ts o f A l c o h o l i c s A nonym ous," M e d ic in e L ooks a t A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous (New Y orks W orks P u b l i s h i n g , I n c . , no d a t e ) , p . 3«

13 w h ic h h a s t o h e r e c o g n i z e d .

More a n d more t h e a l c o h o l i c i s

h e i n g r e f e r r e d t o A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous n o t a s a l a s t r e s o r t , h u t i n r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t f o r many h e r e l i e s t h e m o st h o p e o f e v e n tu a l r e h a b i l i t a t i o n . little

T hough many i n d i v i d u a l s h a v e

o r no d i f f i c u l t y o n c e t h e y c o n t a c t A l c o h o l i c s Anony­

m ous, many a r e f a c e d w i t h a co m p lex a n d d i f f i c u l t t a s k . T h i s s t u d y i s a im e d a t d e t e r m i n i n g , i f p o s s i b l e , some o f t h e s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w h ic h m ig h t b e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e p o t e n t i a l l y s u c c e s s f u l a s w e l l a s t h o s e w h ic h m ig h t i n d i c a t e , w i t h i n b r o a d c a t e g o r i e s , t h o s e who w o u ld h a v e more tro u b le .

I f t h i s c a n b e d o n e , t h e n i t w o uld p r o v e b e n e ­

f i c i a l i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e m an n er o f h a n d l i n g t h e new members in t h e i r i n i t i a l c o n ta c t s .

The p e r s o n n e e d i n g t h e m ost

h e l p w ou ld m ore l i k e l y r e c e i v e i t i f a d d i t i o n a l i n s i g h t t o h i s p r o b l e m was a t h a n d . DEFINITION OF TERMS The t e r m s a n d c o n c e p t s i n t h i s s t u d y a r e u t i l i z e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g m an n e r: A lc o h o lic .

Anyone who i s p o w e r l e s s o v e r a l c o h o l and

w hose l i f e h a s becom e u n m a n a g e a b le .^-3 A l c o h o l i c s A nonym ous.

13

,}T h i s i s t h e name a p p l i e d t o

A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous (New Y o rk : Works P u b l i s h i n g Company, 19^3)> P • 71*

14 a g r o u p o f e x - a l c o h o l i c s who, t h r o u g h a t h e r a p e u t i c p r o g ra m w h ic h c o n t a i n s a d e f i n i t e r e l i g i o u s e l e m e n t , h a v e s u c c e s s ­ f u l l y co m b a te d a lc o h o li s m .* * - ^ A lc o h o lism .

”A m o rb id o r d i s e a s e d c o n d i t i o n i n d u c e d

i n t h e human s y s te m b y t h e e x c e s s i v e o r c o n t i n u o u s u s e o f a l c o h o l i c s t i m u l a n t s . ” 15 A ttitu d e .

”An a c q u i r e d , e s t a b l i s h e d t e n d e n c y t o a c t

to w a r d o r a g a i n s t some t h i n g .*116 G roup P r o c e s s .

”C o n t i n u o u s a c t i o n s o r s e r i e s o f

a c t i o n s c o n s t i t u t i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g fro m t h e p s y c h i c i n t e r ­ a c t i o n s o f p e r s o n s a s s o c i a t e d i n a g r o u p . ” 17 M o tiv a tio n .

”The p r o c e s s o f i n i t i a t i n g c o n s c i o u s

a n d p u r p o s e f u l a c t i o n . ” 18 14

At

H a r r y M. T i e b o u ^ i , ”f h e r a p e u t i c M echanism o f A l c o h o l i c s A non ym ou s,” M e d ic in e L ooks a t A l c o h o l i c s A nonym ous. p . 1 2 . ^ Thomas H . B u s s e l l , e d i t o r , W e b s t e r 1s T w e n t i e t h C e n t u r y D i c t i o n a r y (New Y o rk : P u b l i s h e r ' s G u i l d , 1 9 3 8 ) , p . AO. 16 Emory S . B o g a r d u s , F u n d a m e n t a l s o f S o c i a l P s y c h o l o g y (New Y o rk : D. A p p l e t o n - C e n t u r y Company, 1942) P« 6 5 . ^ H e n ry P . F a i r c h i l d , e d i t o r , D i c t i o n a r y o f S o c i o l ­ ogy (New Y o rk : P h i l o s o p h i c a l L i b r a r y , 1 9 4 4 ) , p . 137• 18 I b i d . . p . 1 9 9 .

15 P erso n al c h a r a c t e r i s t i c .

A q u a l i t y w h ic h i s d i s ­

t i n c t i v e o f a g iv e n p e rs o n and i s o f an i n d i v i d u a l n a t u r e . P erso n al d is o rg a n iz a tio n .

"Any c o n d i t i o n o f

i n a b i l i t y o r d i s i n c l i n a t i o n o f a n i n d i v i d u a l t o c o n fo rm t o s o c i a l l y a c c e p t a b l e p a t t e r n s o f b e h a v i o r w h ic h i n t u r n l e a d s t o s u c h a p e r s o n ! s s o c i a l m a l a d j u s t m e n t .* 1^ P rim ary g r o u p .

“F u n d a m e n ta l s o c i a l g r o u p o p e r a t i n g

i n term s o f i n ti m a t e f a c e - t o - f a c e c o n t a c t s .

The s o u r c e o f

e a r l y p e r s o n a l - s o c i a l a n d c u l t u r a l t r a i n i n g w h ic h t h e i n d i ­ v i d u a l r e c e i v e s f r o m o t h e r s : f o r e x a m p le , i n t h e f a m i l y , n e i g h b o r h o o d , a n d p l a y group.**20 R e h a b ilita tio n .

wThe p r o c e s s o f o r t h e t e c h n i q u e o f

r e - e d u c a t i n g and r e d i r e c t i n g t h e a t t i t u d e s and m o tiv a tio n s o f a n i n d iv i d u a l so a s t o b r i n g h i s b e h a v io r i n t o f u l l h a r ­ mony w i t h t h e law a n d h i s own w i l l i n g a c c e p t a n c e o f s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n s a n d l e g a l r e s t r i c t i o n s . * * 21 S lip .

The f a i l u r e o f a member o f A l c o h o l i c s Anony­

mous t o r e t a i n h i s s o b r i e t y .

^

Ib id ., p. 9 6 .

20

K i m b a l l Y oung, S o c i o l o g y . Book Company, 1 9 4 2 , p . 9 7 4 . 21 F a i r c h i l d , o

c i t .. p. 25 4 .

New Y o rk : A m e ric an

16 S o c ia l a t t i t u d e .

19An a t t i t u d e w h ic h ( l )

i s communi­

c a b le — s h a re a b le , o r (2 ) is fa v o ra b le to s o c ie ta l as con­ t r a s t e d w i t h i n d i v i d u a l i n t e r e s t s . 1®2 S o c ia l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c .

An a t t r i b u t e w h ic h c a n b e

a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a g i v e n p e r s o n a n d w h ic h i s t h e r e s u l t o f in te r-p e rs o n a l o r in te r-g ro u p r e la tio n s h ip s . S o c ia l c o n sc io u sn e ss.

wA w a re n e ss t h a t e x p e r i e n c e s

a r e common t o o r s h a r e d b e tw e e n p e r s o n s . ”2 3 S o c ia l e x p e c ta n c y .

,!The e x p e c t a t i o n o r b e l i e f t h a t

a n o th e r o r o th e r s w i l l p erfo rm a c e r t a i n a c t o r ta k e a p a r ­ t i c u l a r a t t i t u d e ; d e v e lo p e d form a n t i c i p a t o r y re s p o n s e s b u i l t up i n s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n . ”2 ^ S o c ia l p a tt e r n .

”Any o f t r e p e a t e d b i t o f i n t e r ­

a c t i o n a l b e h a v io r in v o lv in g th e c o o r d i n a t i o n and s y n c h r o n i­ z a tio n of th e a c t i v i t i e s

o f two o r m ore i n d i v i d u a l p a r t i c i ­

p a n t s . ”2 5 S o c ia l re o rg a n iz a tio n .

*’The e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a new

22 I b i d . . p . 2 7 7 . 3 Ib id . . p. 278. 2k Y oung, o p . c i t . , 2R

p. 975.

F a i r c h i l d , op., p i t . . , p . 2 8 8 .

17 s y s te m o f r e l a t i o n s h i p s o r v a l u e s i n a s o c i a l g r o u p o r s o c ie ty , p a r t i c u l a r l y a f t e r a p e rio d of d is o rg a n iz a tio n or r a p i d s o c i a l c h a n g e . **^6 S o c ia l s e l f .

"The s e n s e o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y b u i l t up

f ro m d r i v e s an d c y c l e s o f a c t i v i t y a s t h e y becom e a s s o c i a t e d w ith r o l e - t a k i n g , w ith g e t t i n g s t a t u s , and w ith l e a r n i n g t o v ie w o n e f s h a b i t s , a t t i t u d e s a n d i d e a s a s o t h e r p e o p l e d o ." 2T S o c ia l v a lu e s . hum an, a r t i f i c i a l ,

”O b je c ts , in a n im a te o r a n im a te ,

o r n o n - m a t e r i a l , t o w h ic h some v a l u e f o r

t h e “g r o u p ( c o l l e c t i v e l y o r d i s t r i b u t i v e l y ) h a s b e e n im p u te d b y g r o u p c o n s e n s u s . f,28 S u c c e ssfu l.

F o r th e p u rp o se s o f t h i s p a p e r, any

p e r s o n who h a s n o t h a d a " s l i p " a n d h a s m a i n t a i n e d h i s s o b r i e t y f o r t h r e e y e a r s o r more s i n c e j o i n i n g A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous i s c o n s i d e r e d s u c c e s s f u l .

These p e rs o n s i n d i c a t e

th a t th e p ro ce ss of r e h a b i l i t a t i o n i s firm ly e s ta b lis h e d . U n su c c e ssfu l.

I n t h i s s t u d y , a n y p e r s o n who h a s

b een u n a b le t o m a in ta in h i s s o b r i e t y f o r a t l e a s t tw e lv e

26

Ib id .. p . 291.

2 ? Y oung, op., c i t . t p . 9 7 5 . pO

F a ir c h ild , pp. c i t . ,

p. 2 9 6 .

18 c o n s e c u t i v e m onth s i s c o n s i d e r e d u n s u c c e s s f u l .

These p e r ­

sons have c e r t a i n i n d i c a t i o n s o f p e r s o n a l d i s o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d make n o c o n s i s t e n t p r o g r e s s t o w a r d p e r m a n e n t l y a t t a i n i n g th e ir so b rie ty . REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES The p r o b le m o f a l c o h o l i s m i s a co m p lex one an d i t i s n o t p o s s i b l e t o c a r r y o u t a r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t on t h i s p r o b le m a s a w h o le .

H ow ever, i t

i s p o s s i b l e t o d e v i s e p r o j e c t s on

a n i n d i v i d u a l b a s i s w h ic h w i l l n o t r e m a in a s a b s t r a c t i o n s b u t w i l l s h e d l i g h t on t h e t o t a l p i c t u r e .

wThe s c i e n t i s t

i s d i s c o v e r i n g h i s s o c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y and s o c i e t y i s d i s ­ c o v e rin g th e u t i l i t y

o f s p e c i a l i z e d k n o w l e d g e . ”2 9

A ll of

t h e v a r i o u s m e a s u r e s w h ic h make up t h e p r o b l e m o f a l c o h o l ­ ism m ust b e b r o u g h t i n t o a r e l a t i o n w i t h one a n o t h e r .

The

R e s e a r c h C o u n c i l on P ro b le m s o f A l c o h o l i s m ak in g e x h a u s t i v e s tu d ie s of th e f a c t o r s c o n tr ib u tin g to a lc o h o lism , th e b e s t m e th o d s o f t r e a t m e n t , t h e n e e d f o r m ore t r e a t m e n t f a c i l i t i e s a n d many o t h e r p h a s e s o f t h e p r o b l e m . 30

T h ey h a v e d o n e a

g r e a t d e a l to b r in g ab o u t th e p u b lic a c c e p ta n c e of th e a l c o ­ h o lic as a sic k p erso n .

The c o u n c i l c l a i m s t h a t t h e

a l c o h o l i c c a n b e h e l p e d , a n d b a c k up t h a t a s s e r t i o n w i t h

J e l l i n e k , pp.. c i t . ,

p. 4.

H irs h , p p . p i t . , p . 158.

19 th e ir fin d in g s. The p h y s i o l o g i c a l a s p e c t s o f a l c o h o l i s m w e re t h e f i r s t t o h e s t u d i e d , b u t t h e c o n c l u s i o n was r e a c h e d t h a t p h y s io lo g y b y i t s e l f c o u ld n o t c o n t r i b u t e e s s e n t i a l l y to th e s o l u t i o n o f th e p ro b lem .

P h y s io lo g ic a l re se a rc h c o n tr i ­

b u t e d f i n d i n g s on t h e m e t a b o l i s m o f a l c o h o l a n d on f a c t o r s w h ic h m o d ify i t s a b s o r p t i o n a n d o x i d a t i o n .

T h e s e w e re

c o n t r i b u t i o n s w h ic h a d d e d t o t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e e f f e c t s o f a l c o h o l and p r o v i d e d a b a s i s f o r a more r a t i o n a l tre a tm e n t of a c u te a lc o h o lic in to x i c a t io n .

H ow ever, t h e y

d i d n o t c o n t r i b u t e d i r e c t l y t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f how a l c o h o l ­ ism a r i s e s .

T h e r e w e re no t e c h n i q u e s d e v e l o p e d w h ic h c o u l d

be a p p lie d in th e p re v e n tio n of a lc o h o lis m . E a r l y p s y c h o l o g i c a l r e s e a r c h was p r i m a r i l y i n t e r e s t e d in th e ran g e of th e p s y c h o lo g ic a l e f f e c t s of a lc o h o l.

Now

t h i s p h a s e o f r e s e a r c h i s b e co m in g m ore c o n c e r n e d w i t h m o t i ­ v a t i o n , n o t o n ly o f th e d r i n k e r b u t a l s o o f th e a b s t a i n e r as w e ll.

T h e r e h a v e b e e n num erous p e r s o n a l i t y t e s t s a s w e l l

as a s t a t i s t i c a l a n a ly s is of b io g ra p h ic a l l i f e h i s t o r ie s of n o n -p sy c h o tic a lc o h o li c s . S o c io lo g is ts a re I n te r e s te d in th e fu n c tio n of a lc o ­ h o l In s o c ie ty .

S o c i o l o g i s t s s t u d y t h e c u s to m s o f d r i n k i n g

a n d t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f t h e s e c u s to m s t o o t h e r c u s t o m s , a s w e l l a s t h e way i n w h ic h d r i n k i n g h a b i t s a r e l e a r n e d .

The

s o c i a l c o n t r o l o f t h i s f o rm o f b e h a v i o r a n d t h e i n s t i t u t i o n s

o f s o c i e t y w h ic h a t t e m p t t o c o n t r o l i t a r e a l s o f i e l d s o f stu d y f o r th e s o c i o l o g i s t .

S o c io lo g is ts seek c o r r e l a t i o n s

o f am ount a n d t y p e o f d r i n k i n g w i t h o c c u p a t i o n a l , m a r i t a l , n a t i o n a l i t y , r e l i g i o u s , and o t h e r s t a t u s e s .

T here have

b e e n f i e l d s u r v e y s on d r i n k i n g h a b i t s i n p a r t i c u l a r g e o ­ g r a p h i c a l l o c a l i t i e s .31

T here have b een i s o l a t e d s t u d i e s

on t h e a l c o h o l i c d e r e l i c t .32

T here have b een i n v e s t i g a ­

t i o n s i n t o t h e - e c o n o m i c o r i g i n s a n d econo m ic c o n s e q u e n c e s o f a lc o h o lism .

H ow ever, v e r y few o f t h e s e s t u d i e s a r e r e l a t e d

c lo s e ly to th e s u b je c t m a tte r of t h i s p a p e r. T h e r e w ere two s t u d i e s made on A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous fou n d i n th e rev ie w o f th e l i t e r a t u r e .

The f i r s t o f t h e s e

was a r e p o r t w h ic h was p u b l i s h e d i n a n a r t i c l e t i t l e d " P h a s e s i n t h e D r i n k i n g H i s t o r y o f A l c o h o l i c s ."33 T h i s was an a n a l y s i s of a su rv e y co n d u cted by th e G ra p e v in e . th e o f f i c i a l o r g a n o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous.

3^- S e l d e n D. B a c o n , I n e b r i e t y . S o c i a l I n t e g r a t i o n . a n d M a r r i a g e . Memoirs o f t h e S e c t i o n on A l c o h o l S t u d i e s , Y a le U n i v e r s i t y (Hew H aven: Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s on A l c o h o l , 19 45) . 3^ R o b e r t S t r a u s , "Some S o c i o l o g i c a l C o n c o m ita n ts o f E x c e s s i v e D r i n k i n g a s R e v e a le d I n t h e L i f e H i s t o r y o f a n I t i n e r a n t I n e b r i a t e , " Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s on A l c o h o l . IX , J u n e , 1 9 4 8 . 33 1 . m. J e l l i n e k , " P h a s e s i n t h e D r i n k i n g H i s t o r y o f A l c o h o l i c s , ” Memoirs o f t h e S e c t i o n o f S t u d i e s on A l c o h o l , Y a le U n i v e r s i t y (Hew H aven: H i l l h o u s e P r e s s , 1 9 4 6 ) .

The q u e s t i o n n a i r e u s e d i n t h e s u r v e y was d e v e l o p e d b y th e s t a f f o f th e G ra p ev in e w ith th e p u rp o s e b e in g t o g a t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e a g e s o f a l c o h o l i c s a t t h e t im e c e r t a i n s i g n i f i c a n t c h a n g e s, i n t h e i r d r i n k i n g b e h a v i o r was n o t e d . The d a t a o b t a i n e d w e re t o b e u s e d f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e s i g ­ n i f i c a n c e o f c e r t a i n b e h a v i o r s a n d w h a t may b e c a l l e d a p h a seo lo g y o f a lc o h o lis m .

Of t h e 158 fo r m s c o m p l e t e d a n d

r e t u r n e d o n l y n i n e t y - e i g h t o f them c o u l d b e u s e d . m a i n i n g s i x t y w e re n o t c o m p l e t e l y f i l l e d

The r e ­

o u t o r f o r some

o t h e r r e a s o n w e re d e t e r m i n e d u n s a t i s f a c t o r y .3 ^

At th e

t i m e t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e was p u b l i s h e d , t h e G r a p e v i n e h a d a c i r c u l a t i o n of a b o u t s i x t e e n hundred c o p ie s .

T hus 158

r e s p o n s e s r e p r e s e n t a r e t u r n o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y o n l y 10 p e r c e n t. The f i n d i n g s w e re a s f o l l o w s :

( l ) Most s i g n i f i c a n t

s u g g e s t i o n fr o m s u r v e y i s , a s i d e f ro m e m o tio n s a n d i d e a t i o n ­ a l p r o c e s s e s w h ic h may h a v e l e d t o a l c o h o l i s m , t h a t t h e r e a r e t r u e c h a n g e s o f a t t i t u d e s a n d c o n d u c t w h ic h a r e c o n t i n -

3^ F i f t e e n q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e re r e t u r n e d b y f e m a le a l c o h o l i c s a n d t h e s e w e re e x c l u d e d fro m t h e a n a l y s i s b e ­ c a u s e on t h e one h a n d t h e num ber was t o o s m a l l t o b e a n a l y z e d s e p a r a t e l y , a n d on t h e o t h e r h a n d t h e d a t a d i f f e r e d s o g r e a t l y f o r t h e two s e x e s t h a t m e r g in g t h e d a t a was in a d v isa b le . S e v e n t e e n q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e re n o t p r o p e r l y f i l l e d in as th e s u b je c ts d id not s t a t e t h e i r ages in r e l a ­ t i o n t o t h e q u e s t i o n s , b u t s i m p l y a n s w e r e d w i t h wy e s M o r nn o . ,f T w e n t y - e i g h t members o f one A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous g ro u p p o o le d t h e i r in f o r m a tio n and r e c o rd e d t h e i r a v e ra g e s o n ly .

22 g e n t upon t h e s o c i a l c o n s e q u e n c e s o f t h e e x c e s s i v e d r i n k i n g a s w e l l a s upo n i t s p h y s i c a l s t r e s s e s .

( 2 ) Many o f t h e s e

c o n d u c t c h a n g e s , w h ic h d e v e l o p on t h e a v e r a g e a f t e r f i v e t o te n y e a rs of e x c e s s iv e d r in k in g , c r e a t e th e ap p earan ce of a c lin ic a l n e u ro sis.

(3 ) T here i s a s u g g e s tio n t h a t a stu d y o f

t h e d r i n k i n g h i s t o r y may r e v e a l a g r o u p o f b e h a v i o r s p r o g n o s ­ tic

of a lc o h o lism in th e o f f in g .

( 4 ) The s u r v e y a l s o s u g ­

g e s ts t h a t in th e absence of f a c i l i t i e s f o r d e lv in g in to th e e a r l y p s y c h o d y n a m ic s o f t h e d r i n k e r , a s e t o f c e r t a i n d r i n k ­ i n g b e h a v i o r s a n d r e a c t i o n s a t y o u t h f u l a g e s may s e r v e f o r d e te rm in in g th e e x is te n c e of p r e - a lc o h o lic p sy c h o p ath o lo g y . T h e r e w e re a num ber o f l i m i t a t i o n s t o t h e s t u d y a n d i t was n o t t o o r e w a r d i n g o t h e r t h a n i t l e d t o t h e d e v e l o p ­ m ent o f a d e t a i l e d q u e s t i o n n a i r e on t h e d r i n k i n g h i s t o r y o f a lc o h o lic s.

The q u e s t i o n n a i r e was n o t d e s i g n e d f o r s t a ­

t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y a n y a n a l y s i s was d i f f i ­ c u l t and o n ly t e n t a t i v e .

The r e t u r n s w e re so l i m i t e d t h a t

t h i s a l s o h a m p e red a n y e f f o r t s a t a n a l y s i s . A n o t h e r s t u d y w h ic h a p p e a r e d on A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous was made b y Mr. O s c a r ¥ . R i t c h i e a n d was p u b l i s h e d i n 1 9 4 8 . T h i s s t u d y was t i t l e d ,

11A S o c i o h i s t o r i c a l S u r v e y o f A l c o ­

h o l i c s A non ym ous.M35

The p u r p o s e o f t h e s t u d y was t o

35 O s c a r W. R i t c h i e , f,A S o c i o h i s t o r i c a l S u r v e y o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonym ous/ 1 Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s On A l c o h o l , IX ( J u n e , 1 9 4 8 ) 1 1 9 .

23

p r e s e n t a c l e a r e r v iew o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l s upon w h ic h A l c o ­ h o l i c s Anonymous r e s t s a n d t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f i t s

tre a tm e n t

m e th o d s a n d t e c h n i q u e . The i n f o r m a t i o n i n Mr. R i t c h i e ' s r e p o r t was b a s e d on f o r t y - s e v e n f o r m a l i n t e r v i e w s w i t h members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous. m a lly .

I n a d d i t i o n , 150 members w e re c o n t a c t e d i n f o r ­

A q u e s t i o n n a i r e was m a i l e d t o s e l e c t e d A l c o h o l i c s

Anonymous g r o u p s i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d t w e n t y n i n e o f t h e s e w e re r e t u r n e d .

The p u b l i c a t i o n s o f A l c o h o l ­

i c s Anonymous a s w e l l a s n u m ero u s a r t i c l e s i n p o p u l a r a n d sc ie n tific

j o u r n a l s w e re a d d i t i o n a l s o u r c e s o f i n f o r m a t i o n .

The f i n d i n g s o f t h i s s t u d y o u t l i n e d t h e s o c i a l o r i g i n o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous w i t h e m p h a s is on t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e f o u n d e r s an d e a r l y members o f t h e m ovem ent.

T h e r e was

an a n a ly s is of th e o r g a n iz a tio n a l s t r u c t u r e of A lc o h o lic s Anonymous w i t h s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n t o r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r m e m b e rs h ip , f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t , a n d i n t r a g r o u p a s w e l l a s in te r g r o u p r e l a t i o n s h i p s and b e h a v i o r .

The e l e m e n t s o f t h e

A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous p r o g r a m o f r e c o v e r y w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o s c i e n t i f i c a l l y v a l i d t r e a t m e n t t e c h n i q u e s o f a l c o h o l i s m w e re e x a m in e d .

T h e r e was a l s o a summary o f t h e m o st s i g n i f i c a n t

f e a t u r e s o f t h e movement a n d a n e v a l u a t i o n o f them w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e i r t h e r a p e u t i c f u n c t i o n s and th e s o c i o l o g i ­ c a l p r i n c i p l e s w h ic h t h e y i l l u s t r a t e .

24

STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATION INTO CHAPTERS C h a p te r I I i s a d i s c u s s i o n of th e e x p e rim e n ta l d e s ig n f o r t h i s s t u d y a n d c o n t a i n s a s t a t e m e n t o f t h e m ethod o f p ro c e d u re i n c l u d i n g th e d ev elo p m en t and p r e - t e s t i n g o f th e q u e stio n n a ire .

C h a p te r I I I b r i e f l y o u t l i n e s th e h i s t o r i ­

c a l d e v e lo p m e n t a n d f u n c t i o n s o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous. C h a p t e r IV c o n t a i n s a n a n a l y s i s o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e d a t a . The l a s t c h a p t e r i s summary i n n a t u r e a n d i n c l u d e s t h e f i n d in g s and c o n c lu s io n s o f th e s tu d y .

CHAPTER I I

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN FOR THIS STUDY I t m u st b e s t a t e d a t t h e s t a r t o f t h i s c h a p t e r t h a t b e f o r e t h i s s t u d y was b e g u n t h e s t u d e n t h a d h a d r a t h e r e x ­ te n s iv e c o n ta c t o f an In fo rm al n a tu r e w ith A lc o h o lic s Anonymous.

T h i s p r o v e d t o b e o f g r e a t v a l u e when t h e

s t u d y was f i n a l l y f o r m u l a t e d a n d some o f t h e b a s i c r e s e a r c h in itia te d .

F o r t h e m o st p a r t t h e c o o p e r a t i o n g i v e n b y

members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous i n c o m p l e t i n g t h i s p r o j e c t was u n l i m i t e d .

The members w e re p a r t i c u l a r l y h e l p f u l i n

t h e m a t t e r o f e s t a b l i s h i n g c o n t a c t w i t h o t h e r s who w e re w illin g to ta k e p a r t in th e stu d y . ^ The t o t a l sa m p le f o r t h i s s t u d y , was made up o f 210 men s e l e c t e d f r o m v a r i o u s A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous G r o u p s .

The

sa m p le was a c t u a l l y made up o f two g r o u p s , one o f w h ic h was com posed o f 114 men a n d t h e o t h e r made up o f n i n e t y - s i x men. T h e s e two g r o u p s w e re s e l e c t e d on t h e b a s i s o f t h e f o l l o w i n g c rite ria :

t h e f i r s t g r o u p o f 114 men w e re members o f A lc o ­

h o l i c s Anonymous f o r t h r e e y e a r s o r m o re , b u t h a d n e v e r h a d a ,fs l i p M; t h e s e c o n d g r o u p o f n i n e t y - s i x men w e re a l s o mem­ b e r s o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous f o r t h r e e y e a r s o r m o re , b u t had b e en u n a b le t o m a in ta in t h e i r s o b r i e t y f o r a t l e a s t t w e l v e c o n s e c u t i v e m o n th s .

I n t h i s way t h e g r o u p w h ic h was

made up o f members who h a d n e v e r h a d a ” s l i p f’ was c o n s i d e r e d

26 s u c c e s s f u l , w h i l e t h e g r o u p w h ic h was made up o f p e r s o n s who h a d e n c o u n t e r e d v a r y i n g a m o u n ts o f d i f f i c u l t y i n m a i n t a i n i n g t h e i r s o b r i e t y was l o o k e d upon a s u n s u c c e s s f u l .

Of t h e s e ,

t h e o n l y s t a n d a r d w i t h a n y m e a n in g , a s f a r a s A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous i s c o n c e r n e d , i s t h e r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t a p e r s o n m a i n t a i n h i s s o b r i e t y f o r t w e l v e c o n s e c u t i v e m o n th s .

The

r e q u i r e m e n t o f t h r e e y e a r s m em b ersh ip i n A l c o h o l i c s Anony­ mous was s e l e c t e d o n l y b e c a u s e i t seem ed t o b e t h e optim um l e n g t h o f t im e upon w h ic h a n a d e q u a t e sa m p le c o u l d b e b a s e d . F o r t h e m o st p a r t , t h e sa m p le was com posed o f p e r s o n s who v o l u n t e e r e d f o r i n t e r v i e w i n g .

As e a c h member was c o n ­

t a c t e d a n d t h e i n t e r v i e w was c o m p l e t e d , h e was a s k e d i f h e knew o f a n y o t h e r s who f i t w illin g to c o o p e ra te .

i n e i t h e r c a t e g o r y who w o uld b e

By t h i s m e a n s, much d i f f i c u l t y was

e l i m i n a t e d a n d much tim e was s a v e d b y b e i n g a b l e t o go a l m o s t d i r e c t l y t o i n d i v i d u a l s who f i t i n t o t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f th e sa m p le .

I n many c a s e s , t h e y h a d a l r e a d y b e e n c o n ­

t a c t e d b y a n o t h e r member b e f o r e t h e y w e re c a l l e d on b y t h e i n t e r v i e w e r a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y a num ber o f t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h g a t h e r i n g a n d c o n t a c t i n g s u c h a sa m p le w e re n o t such a p ro b lem .

I n b o th th e e a r l y and th e l a t t e r

s t a g e s o f t h e i n t e r v i e w i n g i t was n e c e s s a r y t o c o n t a c t p a r t i c u l a r g r o u p s a s a w h o le a n d t h e n draw o u t p o t e n t i a l in te r v ie w e e s b y t h i s m anner.

T h i s was more t im e c o n s u m in g ,

p r e s e n t e d m ore p r o b l e m s t o t h e i n t e r v i e w e r , a n d r e s u l t e d i n

27

some c a s e s b e i n g l o s t , h e n c e was a v o i d e d w h e n e v e r p o s s i b l e . E ach c a s e was p e r s o n a l l y i n t e r v i e w e d and t h e i n t e r v i e w g e n e r a l l y to o k a b o u t an h o u r to c o m p le te .

W here e v e r

p o s s i b l e t h e i n t e r v i e w i n g was d o n e a t t h e home o f t h e p e r ­ s o n b e i n g i n t e r v i e w e d , w i t h t h e t im e g e n e r a l l y b e i n g s e t i n a d v a n c e s o t h a t t h e r e was l i t t l e

l o s t m o tio n i n t h e p r o c e s s .

F i v e s u b j e c t s , t h r e e fro m t h e u n s u c c e s s f u l g r o u p a n d two fro m t h e s u c c e s s f u l g r o u p , r e f u s e d t o b e i n t e r v i e w e d when c o n ta c te d .

Two r e a s o n s g i v e n w e re e i t h e r t h a t i t t o o k t o o

much t i m e o r t h a t i t was t h o u g h t A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous w ould b e b e t t e r o f f i f i t was n o t i n v e s t i g a t e d t o o m uch. The q u e s t i o n n a i r e was r o u g h l y d i v i d e d i n t o two p a r t s ^ The f i r s t s e c t i o n d e a l t c h i e f l y w i t h m a t e r i a l t h a t was o f b io g ra p h ic a l n a tu re .

The s e c o n d s e c t i o n o f t h e q u e s t i o n ­

n a i r e a tte m p te d to g e t a t th e a t t i t u d e th e in d iv i d u a l had t o w a r d A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous a n d t h e i n f l u e n c e t h e g r o u p h a d upon h i m .

Most o f t h e q u e s t i o n s i n c l u d e d i n t h e q u e s t i o n ­

n a i r e w e re b a s e d on p o i n t s t h a t came up i n n u m ero u s i n f o r m a l t a l k s w i t h v a r i o u s members o f A l c o h o l i c s A nonym ous. A p r e l i m i n a r y f o r m o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e was p r e s e n t e d t o a g r o u p o f a l c o h o l i c s who w e re members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous a s a m eans o f p r e - t e s t i n g .

These used i n th e

36 A c o p y o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e i s i n c l u d e d i n t h e A p p e n d ix .

p r e - t e s t i n g d id n o t f i t in to th e c a te g o r ie s s e le c te d f o r th e f i n a l sa m p le .

The p u r p o s e o f t h i s p r e l i m i n a r y i n v e s t i g a ­

t i o n was t o d e t e r m i n e , i f p o s s i b l e w h e t h e r t h e q u e s t i o n s w e re s t a t e d i n a n u n d e r s t a n d a b l e m an n e r a n d r e s u l t e d i n r e s p o n s e s t h a t w e re som ewhat c o n s i s t e n t i n n a t u r e .

As a

r e s u l t o f t h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n , a few r e v i s i o n s w e re made i n t h e f i n a l fo rm o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e .

As i t f i n a l l y

e v o l v e d , t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e c o n t a i n e d a d e t a i l e d s e c t i o n on j o b h i s t o r y w h ic h p r o v e d t o b e t o o t im e c o n su m in g f o r i n d i ­ v id u a l in te rv ie w in g .

I t was e l i m i n a t e d c o m p l e t e l y a f t e r

t h e f i r s t few i n t e r v i e w s . The d a t a o b t a i n e d t h r o u g h t h e u s e o f t h e q u e s t i o n ­ n a i r e w e re s e p a r a t e d a c c o r d i n g t o w h ic h s u b g ro u p t h e y b e l o n g e d , w e re t a b u l a t e d an d a n a l y z e d . L im ita tio n s of th e s tu d y .

The a p p r o a c h o f t h i s

s t u d y t o t h e p r o b le m s o f a l c o h o l i s m a n d a l c o h o l i c s was sh a rp ly r e s t r i c t e d .

I n d e a l i n g w i t h A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous,

w h ic h i s c o n s i d e r e d m a i n l y a t h e r a p e u t i c d e v i c e , t h e r e was no a t t e m p t t o u n c o v e r a n y o f t h e p o s s i b l e c a u s e s o f a l c o ­ h o lism .

By d e f i n i t i o n , t h e members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anony­

mous w e re c o n s i d e r e d a s a l c o h o l i c s a n d t h e s t u d y p r o c e e d e d fro m t h a t p o i n t .

At t h e same t i m e , no d e t e r m i n e d e f f o r t

was made t o e v a l u a t e t h e p r o g ra m o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous e i t h e r a s a means o f t h e r a p y o r a s a dynam ic s o c i a l m ovem ent.

29

The s e l e c t i o n o f t h e sa m p le a l s o i n v o l v e s some l i m i ­ ta tio n s.

I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , s t a n d a r d s f o r t h e s a m p le were

a r b i t r a r i l y s e t up a n d o n l y t h o s e p e r s o n s who f e l l w i t h i n t h o s e c a t e g o r i e s w e re used*

Many o f t h e S u b j e c t s w e re

c o n t a c t e d f i r s t b y o t h e r members an d c o n s e q u e n t l y i t c a n b e s a i d t h a t t h e s e p e o p l e came f o r w a r d v o l u n t a r i l y .

R e fu sa ls

w e re f e w , b u t t h e r e i s no way o f k n o w in g how many p e o p l e d e c l i n e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e s t u d y b e f o r e t h e y w e re e v e r c o n ta c te d by th e i n t e r v i e w e r .

In th e second p la c e , un­

d o u b t e d l y many p e o p l e who w e re e x p e r i e n c i n g d i f f i c u l t y i n m ak in g a s u c c e s s o f t h e A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous p r o g r a m d r i f t e d away c o m p l e t e l y a n d a r e n o t r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e s a m p le T h e r e was no way t o e s t i m a t e t h i s t u r n o v e r a n d t h e d i f f i ­ c u l t i e s i n v o l v e d i n c o n t a c t i n g t h e s e p e r s o n s w e re s u c h t h a t no a t t e m p t was made t o i n c l u d e th em i n t h e s a m p le . The c o n t r o l s o f t h e i n t e r v i e w i n g s i t u a t i o n w e re d e te rm in e d l a r g e l y by th e e x i s t i n g c ir c u m s ta n c e s .

The

a t t e m p t was made t o h a v e a s f a v o r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s a s p o s s i ­ b l e , b u t t h e same c o n d i t i o n s w e re n o t p r e s e n t f o r a l l t h e in te rv ie w s.

The i n t e r v i e w i n g f o r t h e s t u d y was c a r r i e d

o v e r a c o n s i d e r a b l e l e n g t h o f t im e a n d a num ber o f d i f f e r ­ e n t g r o u p s w e re c o n t a c t e d .

I n some c a s e s ,

I t was n o t

p o s s i b l e t o c o m p l e t e t h e i n t e r v i e w i n g o f a l l t h e members o f t h e same g r o u p a t t h e same t i m e .

C o n se q u e n tly , i t

was n o t e d t h a t some i n t e r v i e w e e s , b e f o r e b e i n g i n t e r v i e w e d ,

h a d co m m u n ica te d w i t h o t h e r s who h a d a l r e a d y b e e n i n t e r ­ v iew ed .

T h i s r a i s e s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t some o f t h e

r e s p o n s e s g i v e n b y t h o s e i n t e r v i e w e d l a s t w e re i n f l u e n c e d , t o some e x t e n t b y t h e i r f e l l o w m em b ers. The r e s t r i c t i o n s im p o sed upon t h i s s t u d y a r e , f o r t h e m ost p a r t , o f t e n e n c o u n t e r e d i n f i e l d r e s e a r c h .

H ow ever,

i n a s t u d y s u c h a s t h i s w h ic h i s p r i m a r i l y o f a n e x p l o r a t o r y n a t u r e , t h e r e s u l t s may h a v e some s i g n i f i c a n c e i n d e a l i n g w i t h t h e p r o b le m o f a l c o h o l i s m a s a w h o l e .

CHAPTER I I I

HISTORY ARB TECHNIQUES OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous came i n t o b e i n g i n 1935 •

T h is

i s a g r o u p movement w h ie h h a s d e v e l o p e d a n d h a s d e m o n s t r a t ­ ed c o n c l u s i v e l y t h a t many a l c o h o l i c s w i l l n o t o n l y s e e k s u i t a b l e t h e r a p e u t i c m easures th e m s e lv e s , b u t a l s o w i l l r e s p o n d t o t h e r a p y t o a d e g r e e t h a t e n a b l e s them t o f u n c t i o n a g a i n a s s u c c e s s f u l members o f s o c i e t y .

T h is gro u p o f f o r ­

m er e x c e s s i v e d r i n k e r s h a s a ssu m e d a t w o f o l d f u n c t i o n . F irst,

t h r o u g h i t s p r o g ra m o f r e c o v e r y i t h a s b r o u g h t a b o u t

th e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f th o u sa n d s of a l c o h o l i c s a n d , se co n d , th e s e a lc o h o lic s have p lay ed an im p o rta n t p a r t in a c q u a in t­ in g th e g e n e ra l p u b lic w ith th e co ncep t of a lc o h o lism as a s o c i o - p s y c h o l o g i c a l , s o c i o - p h y s i c a l and h e a l t h p ro b le m .

In

c o n tr a s t to o th e r ap p ro ach es to th e tre a tm e n t of a lc o h o lis m , A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous i s a p ro g r a m o f r e h a b i l i t a t i o n w h ic h was f a s h i o n e d a n d i s a d m i n i s t e r e d b y t h e a l c o h o l i c s th e m - ‘ se lv e s.

The g r o u p h a s n o o f f i c e r s , no b y l a w s , a n d no r u l e s

o r r e g u l a t i o n s b e y o n d t h e n e e d o f t h e i r f e l l o w men s e e k i n g h e lp .

"By 1939 i t

s t i l l h a d no m ore t h a n one h u n d r e d mem­

b e r s i n t h r e e s m a l l g r o u p s , i n A k ro n , New Y ork C i t y a n d C l e v e l a n d . ,f37

At t h i s t i m e t h e b o o k , A l c o h o l i c s Anonym ous.

37 H i r s h , op., c i t . . ,

p. 121.

32

w h ic h was a r e c o r d o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e s a n d m e th o d s b y w h ic h e a r l y members g a i n e d t h e i r s o b r i e t y , was

p u b lis h e d

.38

T h is

was t h e t u r n i n g p o i n t i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n an d w i t h a v a s t am ount o f f a v o r a b l e p u b l i c i t y t h e m em b ership m ushroom ed.

nI n 1949 t h e r e w e re a p p r o x i m a t e l y 7 5 > 0 0 0 men

an d women members i n t h i s c o u n t r y and a b r o a d , a s s o c i a t e d t o g e t h e r i n some 2 ,7 0 0 s m a l l g r o u p s . ”39 A lth o u g h i t h a s a n a t i o n a l h e a d q u a r t e r s , t h e r e i s no c e n tra liz e d a u th o rity .

I t d o e s h a v e a n a t i o n a l b o d y w h ic h

c o n s i s t s o f a b o a rd o f n in e t r u s t e e s and i s c a l l e d th e A lc o ­ h o lic F o u n d a tio n .^

T h e s e t r u s t e e s a r e no more t h a n c uts t o -

d ia n s of th e g e n e r a l fu n d s a n d -th e t r a d i t i o n s of A lc o h o lic s Anonymous.

F i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous i s

d e r i v e d fro m c o n t r i b u t i o n s f ro m i t s members a n d fro m t h e p r o c e e d s o f t h e s a l e o f t h e b o o k , A l c o h o l i c s Anonym ous. T h e r e i s a G e n e r a l S e r v i c e C e n t e r i n Hew Y o rk C i t y w h ie h a c t s a s a c l e a r i n g h o u s e f o r a l l A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous m a tte rs in c lu d in g th e d is p e n s in g of g e n e ra l in fo rm a tio n , s e r v i c i n g o f l o c a l c h a p t e r s , f o s t e r i n g new c l u b s b y m a i l , d i s t r i b u t i n g s t a n d a r d A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous l i t e r a t u r e and

A l c o h o l i c s Anonym ous. Company, 1 9 4 6 .

Hew Y o rk : Works P u b l i s h i n g

39 M c C a rth y , pp.. c i t . . , p . 1 2 8 . H irsh , op. c i t . ,

p . 122.

'

t h e "book, A l c o h o l i c s Anonym ous. a s w e l l a s c o n d u c t i n g a l l p u b lic r e l a t i o n s .

The A .A . G r a p e v i n e . t h e p r i n c i p a l

m o n th ly j o u r n a l o f t h e movement i s a l s o p u b l i s h e d b y t h e fo u n d a tio n .

L o c a l A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous c l u b s a r e a u t o n o ­

mous a n d n e i t h e r t h e A l c o h o l i c F o u n d a t i o n n o r t h e G e n e r a l S e rv ic e C e n te r e x e r ts any a u t h o r i t y .

As a f u n c t i o n a l

u n i t , A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous i s n o t h i g h l y o r g a n i z e d .

T h e re

a r e no s e t p a t t e r n s t o w h ic h t h e l o c a l g r o u p s m u st a b s o l u t e ­ l y co n fo rm .

The g u i d i n g p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e movement a r e

a lw a y s, w ith in c e r t a i n l i m i t s , and i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . m ent i s i t s

s u b j e c t to group m o d if ic a tio n

A d i s t i n g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e o f t h e move­

la c k o f r i g i d c o n t r o l and c e n t r a l i z e d a u t h o r i t y .

E l i g i b i l i t y f o r m em b ersh ip i n v o l v e s ( l )

th e a d ­

m i s s i o n t h a t o n e ' s l i f e h a s become u n m a n a g e a b le t h r o u g h t h e u se o f a l c o h o l , and ( 2 ) a s i n c e r e w i l l i n g n e s s to l e a r n to l i v e i n c o m p l e t e s o b r i e t y . ”^ !

n o th in g i s asked o f th e

a l c o h o l i c a p p r o a c h i n g A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous s a v e a d e s i r e on h is p a rt to g e t w e ll.

The m em b ersh ip o f A l c o h o l i c s Anony­

mous i s com posed o f men a n d women o f d i f f e r e n t r a c e s , r e l i g i o n s and s t a t i o n s i n l i f e .

By t h e i r d r i n k i n g , t h e s e

p e o p l e h a v e a l l r e a c h e d a more o r l e s s common l e v e l o f p e rs o n a lity d is in te g ra tio n .

W h a te v e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r

w h ic h t h e a l c o h o l i c b e g i n s h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h A l c o h o l i c s

M cC arthy,

ojd.

c it

.,

p.

128.

34 Anonymous, s o o n e r o r l a t e r h e m u st a c c e p t t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t he can n e v e r d r in k a g a in , n o t even m o d e ra te ly .

T h is i s a

p r i m a r y p r i n c i p l e w h ic h t h e a l c o h o l i c m u st a c c e p t i f h e w a n ts A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous t o work f o r h im .

A lc o h o lic s

Anonymous d o e s n o t p r o f e s s t o c u r e t h e a l c o h o l i c .

Its

o n ly p u rp o se i s to e n a b le th e a lc o h o lic to l i v e a l i f e w ith ­ out a lc o h o l. I f a l c o h o l i s a n u n c o n t r o l l a b l e p r o b le m t o h im a n d h e w i s h e s t o do s o m e th i n g a b o u t i t , t h a t i s eno u g h f o r us. We c a r e n o t w h e t h e r h i s c a s e i s s e v e r e o r l i g h t , w h e t h e r h i s m o r a l s a r e good o r b a d , w h e t h e r h e h a s o t h e r c o m p lic a tio n s o r n o t. Our A .A . d o o r s t a n d s w id e o p e n , a n d i f h e p a s s e s t h r o u g h i t a n d commences t o do a n y t h i n g a b o u t i t a t a l l , , h e i s c o n s i d e r e d a member o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous. He s i g n s n o t h i n g , a g r e e s t o n o t h i n g , prom ­ is e s n o th in g . We demand n o t h i n g . He j o i n s u s on h i s own s a y s o . Nowadays i n m ost g r o u p s h e d o e s n ’t e v e n have t o a d m it he i s an a l c o h o l i c . He c a n j o i n on t h e m ere s u s p i c i o n t h a t h e may b e o n e , t h a t h e may a l r e a d y show t h e f a t a l symptoms o f o u r m a l a d y . 42 He s u b s c r i b e s t o no m e m b e rsh ip r e q u i r e m e n t s , no f e e s , no dues, n o r i s a b e l i e f i n any p a r t i c u l a r p o i n t o f v iew , m e d ic a l o r r e l i g i o u s , dem anded o f h im . not e v a n g e lists or refo rm ers.

E m p h a t i c a l l y t h e members a r e B e in g a l c o h o l i c s who h a v e

r e c o v e r e d , t h e y a im t o h e l p o n l y t h o s e who w a n t t o g e t w e l l . T h i s i s d o n e b e c a u s e i t h a s b e e n f o u n d t h a t w o rk in g w i t h o t h e r a l c o h o l i c s p l a y s s u c h a v i t a l p a r t i n k e e p i n g th e m ­ se lv e s so b e r.

42

A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous h a s d raw n upo n t h e

A nonym ous. ”Who i s a Member o f A l c o h o l i c s . A n o n y m o u s,” A. A. G r a p e v in e , N o. 3: 3>7> A u g u s t, 1 9 4 6 .

35 re s o u rc e s of m ed icin e , p s y c h ia tr y , r e l i g i o n , a s w e ll a s th e e x p e r i e n c e s o f d r i n k i n g a n d r e c o v e r y o f i t s m e m b e rs.

These

p r i n c i p l e s have b e e n s tr e a m lin e d i n t o su ch a form t h a t th e a l c o h o l i c w i l l a c c e p t th e m .

T hen t h e r e i s c r e a t e d a

s o c i e t y i n w h ic h h e c a n e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y p u t t h e s e p r i n c i ­ p le s in to o p e ra tio n . The p r i n c i p l e s upon w h ic h A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous o p e r a t e s c o n s t i t u t e i t s p ro g r a m o f r e c o v e r y , u s u a l l y r e ­ f e r r e d t o a s t h e T w elve S t e p s .

The i d e a s w h ic h a r e e x ­

p r e s s e d i n t h e T w elv e S t e p s i l l u s t r a t e t h e *s y n t h e t i c ” c r e a t i o n o f t h e m ovem ent.

T h e s e 11s t e p s n a r e n o t u n l i k e

some o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s a n d p r a c t i c e s o f t h e W a s h i n g t o n i a n s , t h e S a l v a t i o n Army, a n d t h e O x ford G ro u p .

T hese t h r e e

g ro u p s h av e e m p h a size d , a s a p a r t o f t h e i r g e n e r a l p r o ­ gram s, a d h e re n c e t o c e r t a i n o f th e s e p r i n c i p l e s .

In th e ir

w ork w i t h a l c o h o l i c s , a l l t h r e e a d v o c a t e d c o m p l e t e a b s t i ­ n e n c e , r e l i a n c e upon God, w o r k in g w i t h o t h e r s , an d g ro u p a sso c ia tio n s.

A l t h o u g h t h e O x fo rd G roup h a s n e v e r b e e n

p r i m a r il y co n cern ed w ith th e a l c o h o l i c ,

i t h a s, n e v e rth e le ss,

made u s e o f some t e c h n i q u e s w h ic h A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous h a s s u c c e s s f u l l y i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o i t s p r o g ra m o f r e c o v e r y . The i d e a s o f s e l f - a n a l y s i s , t h e p r a c t i c e o f m ak ing r e s t i t u ­ t i o n , and t h e u se o f th e g ro u p c o n f e s s i o n a l a r e e le m e n ts w h ic h h a v e l o n g b e e n e s s e n t i a l f e a t u r e s o f t h e O xford G roup movement a n d a r e now r e g a r d e d a s b a s i c e l e m e n t s i n t h e

36 r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p r o g r a m o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous. The T w elve S t e p s o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous a r e s t a t e d as fo llo w s: 1 . We a d m i t t e d we w e re p o w e r l e s s o v e r a l c o h o l - - t h a t o u r l i v e s h a v e becom e u n m a n a g e a b le . 2 . Came t o b e l i e v e t h a t a Pow er g r e a t e r t h a n o u r ­ s e lv e s c o u ld r e s t o r e us to s a n i t y . 3 - Made a d e c i s i o n t o t u r n o u r w i l l a n d o u r l i v e s over to th e c are 4.

o f God a s we u n d e r s t o o d h i m .

Made a s e a r c h i n g a n d f e a r l e s s

m oral in v e n to r y of

o u rse lv e s. 5* A d m itte d t o God, t o o u r s e l v e s , a n d t o a n o t h e r human b e i n g t h e e x a c t n a t u r e o f o u r w r o n g s . 6 . Were e n t i r e l y r e a d y t o h a v e God rem ove a l l t h e s e d e fe c ts of c h a ra c te r. 7*

Humbly a s k e d Him t o rem ove o u r s h o r t c o m i n g s .

8.

Made a l i s t o f a l l p e r s o n s

we h a d h a rm e d , a n d

becam e w i l l i n g t o make am ends t o them a l l . 9 . Made d i r e c t amends t o s u c h p e o p l e w h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e , e x c e p t when t o do so w ou ld i n j u r e them or o th e rs. 1 0 . C o n t i n u e d ^ t o t a k e p e r s o n a l i n v e n t o r y a n d when we w e re w rong p r o m p t l y a d m i t t e d i t . 1 1 . S o u g h t t h r o u g h pow er o f p r a y e r a n d m e d i t a t i o n t o im p ro v e o u r c o n s c i o u s c o n t a c t w i t h God a s we

u n d e r s t o o d Him, p r a y i n g o n l y f o r k n o w le d g e o f H is w i l l f o r u s a n d t h e p o w er t o c a r r y t h a t o u t . 1 2 . H a v in g h a d a s p i r i t u a l e x p e r i e n c e a s t h e r e s u l t o f t h e s e s t e p s , we t r i e d t o c a r r y t h i s m e ssa g e to a l c o h o l i c s , and t o p r a c t i c e t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s i n a l l o u r a f f a i r s .^3 The A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous p r o g r a m , w h ic h i s s p i r i t u a l b u t n o n - s e c t a r i a n , in v o lv e s a s h i f t in t h in k i n g and f e e l i n g about o n e se lf.

The w h o le p r o g ra m i s a s u g g e s t i o n o n l y .

The a l c o h o l i c , o b j e c t i n g a t f i r s t t o t h e s p i r i t u a l f a c t o r , i s u r g e d t o k e e p a n o p e n m in d ; m e a n w h ile t r e a t i n g h i s own A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous g r o u p a s WA Pow er G r e a t e r T han Him­ se lf. ”

U n d e r t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s t h e newcom er o f t e n commences

t o u n d e rg o a p e r s o n a l i t y c h a n g e a t s u c h a r a t e a n d o f s u c h d i m e n s i o n s t h a t h e c a n n o t f u l l y a c c o u n t f o r i t on t h e b a s i s o f s e l f - r e a l i z a t i o n and s e l f - d i s c i p l i n e .

N ot o n l y

d o e s h i s a l c o h o l i c o b s e s s i o n d i s a p p e a r , b u t h e f i n d s h im ­ s e l f p r o g r e s s i v e l y f r e e of f e a r , r e s e n tm e n t, and i n f e r i o r ­ ity .

T h e s e c h a n g e s seem t o h a v e come a b o u t a l m o s t

a u to m a tic a lly .

Upon t h i s , t h e a l c o h o l i c f e e l s t h a t r,A

Pow er G r e a t e r T han H i m s e l f ’1 m u st b e o p e r a t i n g a n d w i t h t h i s h e t h e n d e v e l o p s c o n f i d e n c e i n t h a t c o n c e p t w h ic h grow s a s h e g e t s p r o o f i n e v e r y d a y l i f e t h a t h i s new f a i t h a c t u a l l y

43

A l c o h o l i c s A nonym ous, p p . 71 - 7 2 .

w orks.

T h i s i s w h a t m o st members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous

a r e t r y i n g t o s a y when t h e y r e f e r t o a s p i r i t u a l e x p e r i e n c e . "T h ey mean a c e r t a i n q u a l i t y o f p e r s o n a l i t y c h a n g e w h i c h , i n t h e i r b e l i e f , c o u l d n o t h a v e o c c u r r e d w i t h o u t t h e h e l p an d p resen ce of th e c r e a tiv e s p i r i t of th e u n iv e rse The w ork o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous h a s a t h r e e f o l d a sp e c t.

F irst,

t h e g r o u p h a s w e e k ly g a t h e r i n g s w h e re e x ­

p e r i e n c e s a r e r e l a t e d a n d p r o b le m s d i s c u s s e d .

Second, a l l

a r e u r g e d t o r e a d t h e i r b o o k , A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, i f t h e y a re to a r r i v e a t any u n d e rsta n d in g of th e

p r o g r a m . ^5

T h ir d .,

t h e members m u st w ork w i t h o t h e r p r o s p e c t s who a r e m aking t h e i r i n i t i a l c o n ta c t w ith th e g ro u p .

H e lp in g o th e r s i s a

tw o -w ay s i t u a t i o n s i n c e i t n o t o n l y a s s i s t s t h e b e g i n n e r i n h i s e f f o r t s b u t i t a l s o a i d s t h e h e l p e r who d e r i v e s fro m h i s e f f o r t s s o m e th i n g w h ic h i s e s s e n t i a l f o r h i s c o n t i n u e d s o b rie ty .

D e s t r u c t i v e p a t t e r n s o f t h e p a s t w h ic h w e re

a s s o c i a t e d w i t h d r i n k i n g a r e r e d i r e c t e d i n t o ways o f t h i n k ­ i n g a n d f e e l i n g w h ic h i n s p i r e s o b r i e t y a n d p e a c e o f m in d . Members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous w i l l n o t go t o a n y o n e i n need u n le s s th e y a r e w a n te d .

The r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f t h e

a l c o h o l i c i s g e n e r a l l y a t i m e c o n su m in g p r o c e s s . 2j4

A lc o h o lic s

MB a s i c C o n c e p ts o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, 11 M e d ic in e L ooks a t A l c o h o l i c s Anonym ous. p . 7« Il k

A l c o h o l i c s A nonym ous.

Anonymous o f f e r s no m a g i c a l f o r m u l a f o r r e c o v e r y .

In t h is

program th e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f th e a l c o h o l i c i s a c o n tin u in g p r o c e s s , f o r h i s r e c o v e r y m ust b e i n t e r m s o f more s a t i s f y ­ in g d a y -to -d a y l i v i n g .

S u c c e s s fu l tre a tm e n t by A lc o h o lic s

Anonymous r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e a l c o h o l i c make c e r t a i n c o n t r i ­ b u t i o n s t o h i s own r e c o v e r y .

As a r u l e t h e a l c o h o l i c m u st

come t o A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous o f h i s own f r e e w i l l a n d h e i s e x p e c t e d t o c o o p e r a t e w i t h t h o s e who a r e s e e k i n g t o h e l p him a n d i s e n c o u r a g e d t o make a n h o n e s t e f f o r t t o h e l p h i m s e l f . A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous r e c o g n i z e s t h a t t h e l a c k o f a s s o c i a t i v e l i f e may l e a d t o a m a l a d j u s t m e n t o f t h e p e r s o n ­ a lity .

T hey b e l i e v e t h a t t h e f a c e - t o - f a c e I n f o r m a l

r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h i n A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous g r o u p s r e s u l t I n f u n d a m e n t a l m o d i f i c a t i o n s o f e a c h m em berf s p e r s o n a l i t y and c o n s e q u e n t l y t h e r e I s a s t r o n g e m p h a s is on g r o u p a c t i v i t y . The w o r k in g t o g e t h e r o f t h o s e who h a v e s i m i l a r e x p e r i e n c e s h a s a n i n t e g r a t i v e e f f e c t on t h e p e r s o n a l i t i e s o f t h e g r o u p m em bers.

T hey b e l i e v e t h a t t h e d e s i r e t o g e t w e l l

i s a n e s s e n t i a l c o n d i t i o n o f r e c o v e r y a n d i t I s o n l y when t h e p e r s o n i n n e e d o f h e l p e x p r e s s e d t h i s d e s i r e d o t h e y go in to a c tio n .

T hey a im t o p r o d u c e a c r i s i s

o r a s t h e members

o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous s a y " h i t b o t t o m *1 when t h e y f i r s t c o n ta c t a p erso n .

T hey n e v e r p r o n o u n c e s e n t e n c e s o r t e l l

t h e a l c o h o l i c w h a t h e m u st d o , b u t b y r e l a t i n g t h e s e r i o u s ­ n e s s o f t h e i r own c a s e s , t h e y l e a v e him t o d raw h i s own

40

c o n c lu sio n s.

Once h e h a s a c c e p t e d t h e f a c t t h a t h e i s a n

a l c o h o li c and th e f u r t h e r f a c t t h a t he i s p o w e rle ss to r e ­ c o v e r u n a i d e d , t h e b a t t l e i s h a l f w on. d itio n s,

Under th e s e co n ­

i t i s n o t d i f f i c u l t to a c c e p t th e im p lic a tio n s of

t h e A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous p r o g r a m .

At t h i s p o i n t i f th e

a lc o h o lic does n o t a lr e a d y have a sp o n so r an A lc o h o lic s Anonymous member t a k e s c h a r g e o f h im . A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous m e e t i n g s a r e o f two t y p e s , t h e o p e n .a n d t h e c l o s e d m e e t i n g s .

Of t h e s e , t h e open m e e t i n g

i s t h e m o st common a n d t o t h e s e a r e i n v i t e d f a m i l i e s a n d f r i e n d s o f members a n d i n t e r e s t e d b y s t a n d e r s .

The m e e t ­

i n g s a r e c o n d u c t e d b y a Ml e a d e r ” who g e n e r a l l y a c t s a s a m a s t e r o f c e r e m o n i e s a n d i n t r o d u c e s t h e members who a r e t o speak a t t h a t p a r t i c u l a r m e e tin g .

T h e s e ,s p e a k e rs a re

members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous who h a v e b e e n s o b e r a t l e a s t t h r e e m o n th s.

Each t a l k i s a l i f e

s to r y b e g in n in g

w ith t h e a d m is s io n t h a t he i s an a l c o h o l i c and th e t a l k i s g e n e r a l l y b u i l t a r o u n d t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e t o him o f one o f t h e T w elv e S t e p s .

He g i v e s a b r i e f a c c o u n t o f h i s

d r i n k in g and h i s d e s c e n t i n t o u n c o n tr o lle d d r i n k in g .

He

t h e n t e l l s how h e h e a r d a b o u t A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous a n d how he h a s b e e n h e l p e d t h r o u g h t h e A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous p r o g r a m . T h i s a l l o w s t h e new members s i t t i n g i n t h e a u d i e n c e t o s e e w h at t h e y may a c c o m p l i s h i f t h e y a r e w i l l i n g t o f o l l o w t h e p rin c ip le s s e t fo rth .

When t h e a d j o u r n m e n t h o u r i s r e a c h e d

o r when r e s p o n s e s f r o m t h e f l o o r a r e no l o n g e r s p o n t a n e o u s th e " h a t i s p a s s e d " and th e m e e tin g a d jo u r n s w ith th e r e c i ­ t a t i o n of th e h o r d fs P r a y e r .

A f t e r th e a d jo u rn m en t

re fre sh m e n ts a re s e rv e d . The v e r b a l i z a t i o n o f d r i n k i n g e x p e r i e n c e s i s a v i t a l p a r t o f t h e A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous p ro g ra m o f r e c o v e r y .

By

t e l l i n g o f t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s h e s h a r e s w i t h t h e f e l l o w mem­ b e r s t h e e m o t i o n a l p ro b le m s w h ic h w e re r e l a t e d t o h i s a tte m p ts to escap e th ro u g h d r in k in g .

T h is s h a r in g b r in g s

r e l i e f o r c a t h a r s i s a n d i s a l s o a m eans by w h ic h t h e a l c o ­ h o l i c i s a d m i t t e d i n t o a "new" w o r l d .

In th is a s s o c ia tio n

w ith p e o p le l i k e h i m s e l f , he i s a b le t o m a in ta in and r e i n ­ fo rce h is fe e lin g s of s e c u rity .

"A ssista n c e in le a r n in g

new ways o f l i v i n g i s g a i n e d f ro m t h e ex am p le a n d g u i d a n c e o f members who h a v e b e e n s u c c e s s f u l i n r e m o u l d in g t h e i r own l i v e s . i n

many e a s e s , a i d i s g i v e n i n f i n d i n g j o b s ,

r e - e s t a b l i s h i n g f a m ily r e l a t i o n s , and i n g e t t i n g t h e a l c o ­ h o lic over a f in a n c ia l b a r r i e r . A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous i s t h e r e s u l t o f t r i a l a n d erro r.

T here a r e c e r t a i n i n h e r e n t d a n g e rs i n th e c o n ­

t i n u i n g g r o w th o f s u c h a m o v em en t.

The e a r l y l e a d e r s w ere

a w a r e o f t h i s p r o b le m o f e i t h e r s t i f l i n g t h e g r o w th o r a llo w in g i t t o p ro c e e d i n a r e l a t i v e l y u n c o n tr o l le d m anner.

^

M cC arthy, pp.. c i t . . , p . 1 2 8 .

To g u a r a n t e e t h e f u t u r e o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, t h e s e l e a d e r s h a v e s e t f o r t h t h e f o l l o w i n g p r i n c i p l e s w h ic h a r e known a s “T r a d i t i o n s o f R e l a t i o n s " : Our A.A . e x p e r i e n c e h a s t a u g h t us t h a t : 1 . E a c h member o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous i s b u t a sm a ll p a r t o f a g r e a t w h o le. A .A . m u st c o n t i n u e t o l i v e o r m o st o f us w i l l s u r e l y d ie . H ence o u r common w e l f a r e comes f i r s t . But in d iv id u a l w e lfa re fo llo w s c lo s e a f t e r ­ w ard . 2 . F o r o u r G roup p u r p o s e t h e r e i s b u t one u l t i m a t e a u t h o r i t y - - a l o v i n g God a s He may e x p r e s s H i m s e l f i n o u r Group c o n s c i e n c e . 3 . Our m em b ersh ip o u g h t t o i n c l u d e a l l who s u f f e r a lc o h o lism . H e n c e , we may r e f u s e n o n e who w i s h t o r e c o v e r . Nor o u g h t A . I . m em b ersh ip e v e r d e p e n d upon money o r c o n ­ fo rm ity . Any two o r t h r e e a l c o h o l i c s g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r f o r s o b r i e t y may c a l l t h e m s e l v e s a n A .A . G ro u p , p r o v i d e d t h a t , a s a G ro u p , t h e y h a v e no o t h e r a f f i l i a t i o n . 4 . W ith r e s p e c t t o i t s own a f f a i r s , e a c h A.A. G roup s h o u l d b e r e s p o n s i b l e t o no o t h e r a u t h o r i t y t h a n i t s own c o n s c i e n c e . B ut when i t s p l a n s c o n c e r n t h e w e l f a r e o f n e ig h b o r in g g ro u p s a l s o , th o s e g ro u p s ought to be c o n s u lte d . And no g r o u p , r e g i o n a l c o m m itte e , o r i n d i v i d u a l s h o u ld e v e r ta k e any a c t i o n t h a t m ig h t g r e a t l y a f f e c t A .A . a s a w h o le w i t h o u t c o n f e r r i n g w i t h t h e T r u s t e e s o f th e A lc o h o lic F o u n d a tio n . On s u c h i s s u e s o u r common w e l f a r e i s p a r a m o u n t. 5 . E ach A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous Group o u g h t t o b e a s p i r i t u a l e n t i t y h a v i n g b u t one p r i m a r y p u r p o s e - - t h a t o f c a r r y i n g i t s m e ssa g e t o t h e a l c o h o l i c who s t i l l s u f f e r s . 6 . P r o b le m s o f money, p r o p e r t y , a n d a u t h o r i t y may e a s i l y d i v e r t u s fro m o u r p r i m a r y S p i r i t u a l a im . We t h i n k , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t any c o n s i d e r a b le p r o p e r t y o f g e n u in e u se t o A .A . s h o u l d b e s e p a r a t e l y i n c o r p o r a t e d

43

a n d m an ag ed , t h u s d i v i d i n g t h e m a t e r i a l fro m t h e s p i r i t u a l . An A .A . G ro u p , a s s u c h , s h o u l d n e v e r go i n t o b u s i n e s s . S e c o n d a r y a i d s t o A .A ., s u c h a s c l u b s o r h o s p i t a l s w h ic h r e q u i r e much p r o p e r t y o r a d m in i s t r a t io n , ought to be in c o rp o ra te d a n d so s e t a p a r t t h a t , i f n e c e s s a r y , t h e y can be f r e e l y d is c a r d e d by th e G ro u p s. H ence s u c h f a c i l i t i e s o u g h t n o t u s e t h e A.A. nam e. T h e i r m anagem ent s h o u l d b e t h e s o l e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h o s e p e o p l e who f i n a n ­ c i a l l y s u p p o r t th e m . F o r c l u b s , A.A. m a n a g e rs a r e u s u a l l y p r e f e r r e d . But h o s p i­ t a l s , as w e ll as o th e r p la c e s of re c u p e ra ­ t i o n , o ught to be w e ll o u t s i d e A .A .--a n d m e d ic a lly s u p e rv is e d . W h ile a n A .A . Group may c o o p e r a t e w i t h a n y o n e , s u c h c o o p e r a t i o n o u g h t n e v e r go s o f a r a s a f f i l i a t i o n o r en d o rs e m e n t, a c t u a l o r i m p lie d . An A.A* G roup c a n b i n d i t s e l f t o no o n e .

*

7 . The A .A . G ro ups t h e m s e l v e s o u g h t t o b e f u l l y s u p p o rte d by th e v o lu n ta r y c o n t r i b u t i o n s of t h e i r own m e m b e rs. We t h i n k t h a t e a c h Group sh o u ld soon a c h ie v e t h i s i d e a l ; t h a t any p u b l i c s o l i c i t a t i o n o f f u n d s u s i n g t h e name o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous i s h i g h l y d a n g e r o u s , w h e th e r by G roups, c lu b s , h o s p i t a l s , o r o th e r o u ts id e a g e n c ie s ; t h a t a c c e p ta n c e of l a r g e g i f t s from any s o u r c e , o r o f c o n t r i b u ­ t io n s c a r r y in g any o b l ig a t io n w h a te v e r, i s u n w ise. T hen t o o , we v ie w w i t h much c o n c e r n t h o s e A*A. t r e a s u r i e s w h ic h c o n t i n u e , b e y o n d p r u d e n t r e s e r v e s , t o a c c u m u l a t e f u n d s f o r no s t a t e d A .A . p u r p o s e . E x p erien ce has o f te n w a rn e d u s t h a t n o t h i n g c a n s p . s u r e l y d e s t r o y our s p i r i t u a l h e rita g e as f u t i l e d isp u te s over p r o p e r t y , money a n d a u t h o r i t y . i 8 . A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous s h o u l d r e m a in f o r e v e r n o n -p ro fe ssio n a l. We d e f i n e p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m a s th e o c c u p a tio n of c o u n s e lin g a lc o h o lic s fo r fee or h ir e . B u t we may em ploy a l c o h o l i c s w h e re t h e y a r e g o i n g t o p e r f o r m t h o s e s e r v i c e s f o r w h ic h we m ig h t o t h e r w i s e h a v e t o e n g a g e n o n -a lc o h o lic s. Such s p e c i a l s e r v i c e s may b e w e ll recom pensed. B u t o u r u s u a l A .A . ,f1 2 t h S t e p ” w ork i s n e v e r t o b e p a i d f o r .

44 9 . E ach A .A . G roup n e e d s t h e l e a s t p o s s i b l e o r ­ g a n iz a tio n . R o ta tin g le a d e rs h ip is th e b e s t . The s m a l l G roup may e l e c t i t s S e c r e t a r y , t h e l a r g e G roup i t s R o t a t i n g C o m m itte e , a n d t h e G roup s o f a l a r g e M e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a t h e i r Gent r a l o r I n t e r g r o u p C o m m itte e , w h ic h o f t e n e m plo ys a f u l l t i m e S e c r e t a r y . 0 The T r u s t e e s o f The A l c o h o l i c F o u n d a t i o n a r e , i n e f f e c t , o u r A .A . G e n e r a l S e r v i c e C o m m itte e . T h ey a r e t h e c u s t o d i a n s o f o u r A .A . T r a d i t i o n a n d t h e r e c e i v e r s o f v o l u n t a r y A .A . c o n t r i b u t i o n s b y w h ic h we m a i n t a i n o u r A .A . G e n e r a l S e r v i c e O f f i c e a t New Y o r k . T hey a r e a u t h o r i z e d b y t h e G roups t o h a n d l e o u r o v e r - a l l p u b l i c r e ­ l a t i o n s and th e y g u a ra n te e th e i n t e g r i t y o f o u r p r i n c i p a l n e w s p a p e r , The A .A . G r a p e v i n e . A ll such r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a r e t o be g u id e d in th e s p i r i t of s e r v ic e , f o r tr u e le a d e rs in A.A. a r e b u t t r u s t e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d s e r v a n t s of th e w h o le . T h ey d e r i v e no r e a l a u t h o r i t y f ro m t h e i r t i t l e s ; t h e y do n o t g o v e r n . U n i­ v e r s a l r e s p e c t i s th e key to t h e i r u s e f u ln e s s . 1 0 . No A .A . G roup o r member s h o u l d e v e r , i n s u c h a way a s t o i m p l i c a t e A .A . e x p r e s s a n y o p i n i o n on o u t s i d e c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s s u e s - - p a r t i c u l a r l y th o se of p o l i t i c s , a lc o h o l refo rm , o r s e c t ­ a ria n re lig io n . The A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous G roups o p p o se no o n e . C o n cern in g su ch m a tte r s t h e y c a n e x p r e s s no v ie w s w h a t e v e r . 1 1 . Our r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c s h o u l d b e c h a r a c t e r i z e d by p e r s o n a l an o n y m ity . We t h i n k A.A . o u g h t t o a v o i d s e n s a t i o n a l a d v e r t i s i n g . Our names a n d p i c t u r e s a s A.A. members o u g h t n o t be b r o a d c a s t, film e d , o r p u b lic ly p r i n te d . Our p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s s h o u l d b e g u i d e d b y t h e p r i n c i p l e o f a t t r a c t i o n r a t h e r th a n p ro m o tio n . T here i s n e v e r need to p r a i s e o u r s e l v e s . We f e e l i t b e t t e r t o l e t o u r f r i e n d s recommend u s . 1 2 . And f i n a l l y , we o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous b e l i e v e t h a t t h e p r i n c i p l e o f A nonym ity h a s a n immense ‘ s p ir itu a l sig n ific a n c e . I t r e m in d s u s t h a t we a re to p la c e p r in c ip le s b e fo re p e r s o n a litie s ; t h a t we a r e a c t u a l l y t o p r a c t i c e a g e n u i n e h u m ility . T h i s t o t h e end t h a t o u r g r e a t b l e s s i n g s may n e v e r s p o i l u s ; t h a t we s h a l l

f o r e v e r l i v e in th a n k f u l c o n te m p la tio n of Him Who p r e s i d e s o v e r u s a l l .^ 7 T hese p r i n c i p l e s a r e s t a t e d i n p o s i t i v e la n g u a g e b u t a r e to b e ta k e n o n ly a s s u g g e s tio n s t o a i d th e f u t u r e of A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous.

T hese t r a d i t i o n s a r e m e re ly an

a t t e m p t t o p o r t r a y t h e g r o u p i d e a l to w a rd w h ic h A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous h a s b e e n m oving s i n c e i t s

Inc.,

o rig in .

^ A. A. T r a d i t i o n . (New Y ork: Works P u b l i s h i n g , 19^77* p p . 8 - 9 .

CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS OF DATA The s a m p le u s e d i n t h i s s t u d y was com posed o f s e l e c t e d members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous.

The t o t a l

s a m p le o f 210 m a le a l c o h o l i c s was d i v i d e d i n t o two s u b ­ g r o u p s on t h e b a s i s o f a r b i t r a r y c r i t e r i a a s s e e n i n T a b l e I.

One o f t h e s u b - g r o u p s , b y d e f i n i t i o n , was a ssu m e d t o

be s u c c e s s f u l .

T h i s g r o u p , n u m b e r in g 114 men was made up

o f members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous who h a d n e v e r h a d a " s l i p ” s i n c e j o i n i n g A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous a n d h a d b e e n mem­ b e rs f o r th r e e y e a r s o r m ore.

F or th e sake o f c l a r i t y ,

in

t h i s c h a p t e r , t h e s u c c e s s f u l g r o u p i s l i s t e d a s G roup I . The o t h e r s u b - g r o u p , w h ic h t o t a l e d n i n e t y - s i x men, was a l s o com posed o f s e l e c t e d members o f A l c o h o l i c s A nonym ous. T h e s e men h a d a l s o b e e n members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous f o r t h r e e y e a r s o r m o re , b u t h a d n e v e r b e e n a b l e t o m a i n t a i n t h e i r s o b r i e t y f o r tw e lv e c o n s e c u tiv e m o n th s.

T h is su b ­

g r o u p was a ssu m e d t o b e u n s u c c e s s f u l a n d , i n t h i s c h a p t e r , w i l l b e r e f e r r e d t o a s Group I I . I n m ak in g a c o m p a r is o n o f p e r s o n a l a n d s o c i a l f a c t o r s i d e n t i f i e d w i t h s e l e c t e d members o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, t h e r e a p p e a r s t o b e a c l o s e s i m i l a r i t y b e tw e e n t h e two g roups q u e s tio n e d .

T h i s l i k e n e s s i s , f o r t h e m o st p a r t , a

f u n c t i o n o f t h e sa m p le .

P erso n s s e le c te d , as i n t h i s stu d y ,

TABLE I

BREAKDOWN OP 210 MALE MEMBERS OP ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS INTO TWO SUB-GROUPS BY LENGTH OP MEMBERSHIP AND SOBRIETY

T o ta l num ber

Number on A.A . 3 o r more y e a r s

Number s o b e r 12 o r more m onths

T o t a l sa m p le

210

210

114

96

Group I

114

114

114

--

Group I I

96

96

GROUP

Number sober le s s t h a n 12 m onths

96

-F=*

- 3 6 - 4 4 . R i l e y , J o h n W ., a n d C h a r l e s F . M arden, "The S o c i a l P a t t e r n o f A l c o h o l i c D r i n k i n g , ” Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s on A lc o h o l. V I I I (S e p tem b er, 1 9 4 7 ), 2 65 - 7 3 . R i t c h i e , O s c a r W ., "A S o c i o h i s t o r i c a l S u r v e y o f A l c o h o l i c s Anonymous, ” Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s on A l c o h o l . IX ( J u n e , 1948), 1 1 9 - 1 5 6 . ,

103 R u sh , B e n ja m i n , 11The E f f e c t s o f A rd e n t S p i r i t s on t h e Human Body a n d M ind, ” Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s on A l c o h o l . IV ( S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 4 3 ) , 3 2 1 - 3 4 1 . S t r a u s , R o b e r t , "Some S o c i o l o g i c a l C o n c o m i t a n t s o f E x c e s s i v e D r i n k i n g a s R e v e a le d i n t h e L i f e H i s t o r y o f a n I t i n e r a n t I n e b r i a t e , ” Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s on A l c o h o l . IX (Ju n e , 1 948), 1 -5 2 . T i e b o u t , H a r r y M ., " P s y c h o l o g y a n d T r e a t m e n t o f A l c o h o l i s m , ” Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s on A l c o h o l . V I I ( S e p t e m b e r , 1946) , 214- 2 2 7 . W i l l i a m s , R o g e r J . , "The E t i o l o g y o f A l c o h o l i s m , ” Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f S t u d i e s on A l c o h o l . V I I (M a rc h , 1 9 4 7 ) ^ 5 6 7-

587

*

C.

PAMPHLETS

A.A . T r a d i t i o n . Works P u b l i s h i n g Company, I n c . , New Y o rk , 1947. 47 P P . A. A . , The A l c o h o l i c F o u n d a t i o n , New Y o r k , no d a t e , 29 p p . D.

PUBLICATIONS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

" M e d ic in e Looks a t A l c o h o l i c s A n ony m o us,” P a p e r s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e M e d ic a l S o c i e t y o f t h e S t a t e o f New Y ork and t o t h e A m e ric a n P s y c h i a t r i c A s s o c i a t i o n , W orks P u b l i s h i n g Company, I n c . , New Y o rk , 1 9 4 4 . 19 p p . ”The S c i e n t i f i c A p p ro a c h t o C h r o n ic A l c o h o l i s m , ” The Re­ s e a r c h C o u n c i l on P r o b le m s o f A l c o h o l , New Y o r k , n o d a t e , 32 p p .

APPEHDIX

105

The p u r p o s e o f t h i s q u e s t i o n n a i r e i s t o g a t h e r i n f o r m a ­ tio n f o r a s o c io lo g ic a l stu d y . I t i s hoped t h a t i t w i l l a i d A. A. i n i t s w o rk w i t h a l c o h o l i c s . A ll m a te r ia l ob­ t a i n e d fr o m t h i s q u e s t i o n n a i r e w i l l b e t r e a t e d c o n f i d e n ­ tia lly . S t r i c t a n o n y m ity w i l l b e r e t a i n e d a t a l l t i m e s . The r e s u l t s o f t h e s t u d y w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e t o t h o s e g r o u p s w h ic h p a r t i c i p a t e # Your c o - o p e r a tio n i n f i l l i n g out t h i s q u e stio n n a ire is g r e a tly a p p re c ia te d . 1.

Sex:

( l ) Male_____; ( 2 ) F e m a le _____.

2.

Y ou r a g e a t l a s t b i r t h d a y

3.

.When d i d y ou j o i n A. A . :

4.

How l o n g h a v e you r e t a i n e d y o u r s o b r i e t y :

5.

What i s y o u r m a r i t a l s t a t u s : ( 2 ) E ngaged : ( 3 ) M a r r ie d D iv o rced 1 ( 6 ) S e p a ra te d

y ears. Month

: Y ear M onths_____.

( l ) S in g le (n o t engaged ; ( 4 ) Widowed ; (57

:

.

6.

I f m a r r i e d a n d now l i v i n g w i t h s p o u s e , h a v e you e v e r p r e ­ v io u s ly been m a rrie d : ( l ) Yes ; ( 2 ) Wo ; i f ^ Y e s ,” how d i d y o u r p r e v i o u s m a r r i a g e e n d : ( l ) _D i v o r c e ___ ( 2 ) D e a th .

7#

I f e v e r m a r r i e d , a t w h a t a g e was f i r s t m a r r i a g e : _______ y ears.

8.

How many d e p e n d e n t s do y o u h a v e : ___ ; What i s t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p t o y ou____________________;_______________________ .

9.

A re y ou a c i t i z e n o f t h e U . S . :

( l ) Y es

; ( 2 ) Wo

1 0 . From w h a t r e g i o n d i d you come: ( l ) P a c if ic C oast ( 2 ) R ocky M o u n ta in S t a t e s ; ( 3 ; M id d le w e s t ; (4) E a s t ; ( 5 ) S o u th .

. ;

1 1 . How l o n g h a v e y o u l i v e d i n S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a : (l) le ss th a n 3 m o n th s ; ( 2 ) 3 t o 6 m o n th s ; ( 3 ) 7 m onth s t o 1 year ; (4 ) 1 t o 2 y e a r s ; (5 ) 2 to 3 y e a rs ; (6) 3 - 4 y e a r s ___; ( 7 ) 4 y e a r s o r more . 1 2 . I n w h a t t y p e o f com m unity d i d you l i v e t h e f i r s t 20 y e a r s of y o u r l i f e : ( l ) Open c o u n t r y : ( 2 ) to w n l e s s t h a n 2500___ ; ( 3 ) 2500 t o 1 0 ,0 0 0 ; ( 4 ) 1 0 ,0 0 0 t o 2 5 ,0 0 0 ____5 ( 5 ) 2 5 ,0 0 0 t o 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 ___ ,* ( F T ’O ver 1 0 0 , 000_.___.

106 13* What i s y o u r h o u s i n g s t a t u s now: ( l ) Own home c l e a r ( 2 ) B u y in g home ; (3) R ent u n f u r n is h e d h o u se : (4 ) R ent f u r n i s h e d h o u s e (5) Rent u n fu rn is h e d a p a rtm e n t s ( 6 ) Rent fu r n is h e d a p a rtm e n t ; ( 7 ) R e n t room ; ( 8 ) L iv e w i t h p a r e n t s . 14» I f y ou r e n t , w h a t i s t h e a v e r a g e m o n th l y r e n t yo u h a v e b een p a y in g i n th e l a s t f o u r y e a r s : (1 ) L ess th a n $2 5 . 0 0 ___ ; ( 2 ) $2 6 . 0 0 t o $5 0 .0 0 ___ ; ( 3 ) $5 1 .0 0 t o $7 5 - 0 0 ___ ; ( 4 ) $7 6 .0 0 t o $100___ ; ( 5 ) $101 o r more . 15* I f you a r e b u y i n g , w h a t i s y o u r a v e r a g e m o n th ly p a y ­ m e n t: ( 1 ) $2 5 . 0 0 t o $ 5 0 . 0 0 : ( 2 ) $5 1 . 0 0 t o $7 5 .0 0 ___ ( 3 ) $7 6 .0 0 t o $1 0 0 .0 0 ___ ; ( 4 ) $101 o r more . l 6 . How many t i m e s h a v e you moved i n t h e p a s t f o u r y e a r s : Ho t i m e s ; ( 2 ) 1___ ; (3 ) 2____; U ) 3___ J (5 ) 4___ J 5 o r m ore t i m e s 17* C i r c l e t h e l a s t g r a d e o f s c h o o l c o m p l e t e d : 9 10 11 12 O I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (g rad e sch o o l) (h ig h sc h o o l) 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 (p o st g ra d u a te ) (c o lle g e ) 1 8 . What t y p e o f s c h o o l d i d y o u a t t e n d : ( c h e c k m ore t h a n one i f n e c e s s a r y ) ( l ) P u b lic school ; (2 ) P r i v a t e ; (3 ) P a r o c h i a l ; ( 4 ) I f o t h e r , s t a t e ___________ . 1 9 . What s p e c i a l t r a i n i n g h a v e y o u h a d : TYPE OF SCHOOL

NAME OF COURSE TAKEN

NO. MONTHS

C o r r e s p o n d e n c e _______________________________________________ T r a d e S c h o o l _________________________________________________ A d u l t h i g h s c h o o l ______________

'___________________ _ _

B u s i n e s s C o l l e g e ______________ ______ _______________________ 2 0 . D id y o u h a v e a h o b b y b e f o r e you j o i n e d A. A .: (1 ) Y es ; (2 ) No ; I f MY e s , w p l e a s e s t a t e w h a t i t was 2 1 . Do you now h a v e a h o b b y : (1 ) Yes. " Y e s ," p l e a s e s t a t e w h a t i t i s __

( 2 ) No.

if*

107 22.

What s p o r t s do yo u e n g a g e i n r e g u l a r l y now:

23.

What s p o r t i n g e v e n t s do you r e g u l a r l y a t t e n d :

24.

What t y p e o f h o o k do y o u g e n e r a l l y r e a d : (1) F i c t i o n ; (2 ) N o n - f i c t i o n ; (3 ) T e c h n i c a l ____.

25.

What m a g a z in e s do y o u r e a d r a t h e r r e g u l a r l y ____________

26.

What t y p e o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t d o e s y o u r A. JU g r o u p p r o ­ v id e : ( 1 ) D a n ce s ; (2 ) P a r t i e s ; ( 3 ) M ovies ; (4 ) O u t s i d e s p e a k e r s ; (5 ) O t h e r ________________________ .

27.

W hich o f t h e s e do yo u p r e f e r : ______________________________ .

28.

How o f t e n do y o u a t t e n d t h e s e p r o g r a m s : (1 ) R e g u l a r l y ; (2 ) S o m etim es ; (3 ) S e ld o m ; (4 ) N ever .

29.

Do you g e n e r a l l y s e e k y o u r e n t e r t a i n m e n t w i t h o t h e r members o f A. A . : ( l ) Y e s_ ; ( 2 ) No .

30.

Do (1 ) (2 ) (3) (4 )

y ou e n g a g e i n a n y o f t h e f o l l o w i n g a c t i v i t i e s : B e t t i n g on t h e h o r s e s . G a m b lin g a t c a r d s . S h o o t i n g d i c e ____. B e t t i n g on s p o r t i n g e v e n t s ( o t h e r t h a n h o r s e r a c i n g ) •

( 5 ) O th e r . ( 0 ) None o f t h e s e

.

31.

What i s y o u r a v e r a g e m o n th ly incom e f ro m t h i s j o b : (l) L e s s t h a n $100___ ; (2 ) $100 t o $149___ ; (:3) $150 t o $199___ ; ( 4 ) $200 t o $249__; ( 5 ) $250 t o $299____; ( 6 ) $300 t o $349___ ; ( 7 )$350 t o $399_____ ; ( 8 ) $400 o r more

32.

W hat i s t h e l o n g e s t t i m e y o u h a v e w o rk ed f o r a n y e m p lo y e r: ( 1 ) 0 t o 6 m o n th s ; ( 2 ) 7 t o 11 m o n t h s ; (3) 1 year ; (4 ) 2 y e a r s ; (5 ) 3 years ; (6 ) 4 y e a r s o r more .

33*

A re y ou a r e g i s t e r e d v o t e r :

34.

D id y o u v o t e i n t h e l a s t P r e s i d e n t i a l e l e c t i o n : ( 1 ) Yes ; ( 2 ) No .

( l ) Yes

; ( 2 ) No

35* What r e l i g i o u s s e r v i c e s do yo u a t t e n d r e g u l a r l y : ( l ) C a th o lic ; (2 ) P r o t e s t a n t ; (3 ) J e w i s h j ( 4 ) Mormon ; ( 5 ) C h ristia n S c ie n tis t ; (6) O th er ; (7 ) None . 36.

D id you a t t e n d s e r v i c e s r e g u l a r l y b e f o r e j o i n i n g A. A .: ( 1 ) Yes___ j ( 2 ) No .

37•

A re you a member o f a n y l o d g e s , c l u b s , o r f r a t e r n i t i e s : ( P u t a c h e c k m ark b e f o r e t h o s e i n w h ic h y o u a r e a c t i v e )

3 8 . I n how many o f t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s do y ou h o l d a n e l e c ­ tiv e o ffic e : ( l ) None ; (2 ) 1___ ; ( 3 ) 2 _ __; ( 4 ) 3___ ; ( 5 ) 4 o r m ore . 3 9 • B id you b e l o n g t o a n y l o d g e s , c l u b s , o r f r a t e r n i t i e s b e f o r e y o u came t o A . A . : ( l ) Yes ; ( 2) No : I f you d i d , p l e a s e s t a t e w h ic h o n e s : _______________________ 4 0 . D id you f i n d i t n e c e s s a r y t o g i v e up b e i n g a c t i v e i n a n y o f t h e s e t o r e t a i n y o u r s o b r i e t y : ( l ) Y es_____ ;(2 ) No__ I f y o u d i d , p l e a s e s t a t e w h ic h o n e s . 4 1 . What was y o u r f a t h e r ' s a t t i t u d e t o w a rd y o u r d r i n k i n g : (C h eck one o f t h e f o l l o w i n g ) ( l ) A pprbved_ ; (2 ) T o le r ­ a n t ___j ( 3 ) D i s a p p r o v e d _____. 4 2 . What was y o u r m o t h e r 's a t t i t u d e to w a rd y o u r d r i n k i n g : (C heck one o f t h e f o l l o w i n g ) ( l ) A pproved ; (2 ) T o l e r ­ a n t ___; ( 3 ) D i s a p p r o v e d _____. 4 3 * If* m a r r i e d , w h a t i s t h e a t t i t u d e o f y o u r s p o u s e to w a rd your d rin k in g : (C heck one o f t h e f o l l o w i n g ) ( l ) A p p ro v ed ; (2) T o le r a n t ; ( 3 ) D i s a p p r o v e d ____. 4 4 . How d i d y o u f i r s t l e a r n o f A. A..: (2 ) F r i e n d ; (3 ) Read a b o u t i t

( l) R e la tiv e ; ; ( 4 ) O t h e r ___.

4 5 . D id y o u c o n t a c t A.

A. y o u r s e l f :

4 6 . D id a member o f A. (2 ) No .

A. C o n t a c t y o u :

47* Were

y o u s e n t t o A. A. b y a j u d g e :

( l ) Yes

; ( 2 ) No

( l ) Yes (l)

Y es____ ;

4 8 . W ere y o u s e n t t o A. A. b y a p r o b a t i o n o f f i c e r : Yes___; ( 2 ) No .

.

; ( 2 ) No___ (1)

109

49 • What was t h e a p p r o x i m a t e d a t e y o u f i r s t l e a r n e d o f A • A •: ________________________«_____________________________________________________• 5 0 . How l o n g was i t a f t e r t h i s t h a t y o u w e n t t o y o u r f i r s t m e e t i n g : ________________________________________________________ 5 1• D id you b e g i n t o a t t e n d m e e t i n g s r e g u l a r l y a f t e r t h i s f i r s t c o n ta c t: ( l ) _Y es___ ; (2} No___ . 5 2 . How o f t e n do y o u a t t e n d A. A. m e e t i n g s : ( l ) Once a week ; ( 2 ) T w ice a week. ; ( 3 ) T h re e o r m ore t i m e s a week . 5 3 . How many d i f f e r e n t A. A. g r o u p s do y o u c o n t a c t : O nly o n e ; ( 3 ) Two ; ( 3 ) T h r e e o r m ore .

(l)

5 4 . How many t i m e s h a v e y o u h a d a " s l i p ” s i n c e j o i n i n g A. A. : f l ) N ever ; ( 2 ) Once ; ( 3 ) T w ice ___ ; (A) 3___ \ ( 5 ) 4 o r m ore___ 55* What was t h e d u r a t i o n o f t h e l o n g e s t " s l i p ” :______________ 5 6 . What h a s b e e n t h e l o n g e s t d r y p e r i o d t h a t y o u h a v e had s i n c e j o i n i n g A. A .: l) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)

L e s s t h a n 1 m o n th . L e s s t h a n 3 m o n th s . 3 t o 6 m o n th s . More t h a n 6 m on ths t o one year_ More t h a n 1 y e a r ____ . More t h a n 2 y e a r s ___ . More t h a n 3 y e a r s ___ . More t h a n 4 y e a r s ___ . More t h a n 5 y e a r s ___ .

5 7 . Have y o u e v e r b r o u g h t a f r i e n d o r r e l a t i v e t o a n A. A. m e e t i n g who was n o t a n a l c o h o l i c : ( 1 ) Y es____; (2 ) No__ 5 8 . How many b a b i e s h a v e y o u b r o u g h t i n t o A. A. : . 3 9 . How o f t e n do y o u s p e a k b e f o r e A. A. G ro u p s : la rly ; ( 2 ) S o m etim es ; ( 3 ) Not a t a l l 6 0 . Does y o u r g r o u p h a v e c l u b f a c i l i t i e s : ( 2 ) No .

( l ) R egu­ .

( l ) Yes

;

61 . I f t h e r e a r e c l u b f a c i l i t i e s a v a i l a b l e , do v o u sp e n d m o st o f y o u r l e i s u r e t im e t h e r e : ( l ) Yes___ ; ( 2 ) No___ .

110 62 . A re t h e p e o p l e w i t h whomy o u s p e n d m o st o f y o u r t im e a l s o members o f A. A . : ( 1 ) Y es____ ; ( 2 ) No _ . 6 3 . I f you a r e m a rrie d and s t i l l l i v i n g t o g e t h e r , i s y o u r s p o u s e a l s o a member o f A. A .: ( l ) Yes ; ( 2 ) No___ . 64.

B id y o u e v e r e n t e r a p r i v a t e s a n i t a r i u m f o r t r e a t m e n t of a lc o h o lism : ( 1 ) Y es___ ; ( 2 ) No .

6 5 . B id you e v e r e n t e r a p u b l i c i n s t i t u t i o n f o r t r e a t m e n t of a lc o h o lism : ( l ) Y es ; ( 2 ) No . 66.

Would y o u ju d g e y o u r p r e s e n t s o c i a l a d j u s t m e n t a s : ( l ) E x c e lle n t ; ( 2 ) Good__ ; ( 3 ) A v e ra g e ; (4 ) P o o r ; ( 5 ) In a d e q u a te .

! * * « * * of S o u th a m California u n ™ ,