AA – Will it Work For You?
Contrary to popular opinion, and treatment program hype, people who try the AA/12 Step program are rarely successful. In fact, AA’s own research shows that, at best, only 5% find long term relief from alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, and alcoholism through “working the program.”
But are you one of the 5%?
Again, research has provided some answers.
Basically, AA and the 12 Steps work for three different types of people, types based on maturity.
The largest group who find success through the program are those who are emotionally arrested at the middle school level of development – the “Conformists” in Dr. Jane Loevinger’s (Washington University, St. Louis) measure and model of ego development.
That’s not surprising, given conformists’ love of fitting it, adhering to peer pressure, and their love of trinkets, tokens, bumper stickers, medallions, etc. In AA they find the same familiar drinking buddies, alcohol fixation, and protection from families and spouses they formerly found in bars – with the additional excuse for their escape from responsibility covered as “working their program”.
The second group is the overly “Conscientious” individuals in Loevinger’s construct. These people find the same sort of escape from responsibility in AA that they formerly found in alcohol. They also, in addition to relaxing, can engage in low level mentoring, “sponsoring” in 12 Step lingo, and other community service opportunities that appeal to their need to atone for past drinking behaviors.
Between them, the Conformists and the Conscientious make a good fit and if it wasn’t for the third element AA would be a much more happy alliance.
But, unfortunately, the third group, the “Self-Protective” not only exist, but dominate. Low level con artists and predators, they have existed from AA’s earliest beginnings. Here they quickly found a willing group of self-anointed, and ever changing, victims to prey on emotionally, sexually, and financially.
Emulating Bill W., they have so permeated the program that for over 50 years their activities have been universally known as “13th Stepping.”
So, will AA and the 12 Steps work for you?
If you seek to continue an alcohol focused life, without enduring criticism, and you like the trappings, then the answer is possibly yes. Just beware of the men and women who will attempt to victimize you at every opportunity.
If you are looking to substitute community service and relaxation through mentoring – and protecting – for your drinking, then, again, you may find a niche in AA. God knows the lower level members need your protection.
And for those of you who are predators and you know who you are, please find other pastures for your grazing? Yes, we know that you find the unending supply of willing victims nearly irresistible – which is why you also create “treatment” programs – but how about picking on someone your own size for a change?
And if you’re not one of the 5% described here, or if you’re ready to grow up a bit, well give us a call. After all, you’re probably one of the 95% we help to put alcohol abuse behind, permanently, without steps, meetings, labels, groups, or exposure to con artists and charlatans.
