A Study of the Process of Affiliation with Alcoholics Anonymous

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Abstract
The guiding question of this research lies in explaining the fact that among all the persons characterized by a compulsion to drink, with many common experiences and emotional feelings among them, some are able to affiliate with an AA group, while others are not. After extensive field work with both active affiliates and non-affiliates, hypotheses were formed to explain the differences. These were as follows: (1) Alcoholics who affiliate with AA will differ from non-affiliates in their self-conception and associational experiences prior to attending any meetings. (2) They will differ significantly with respect to initial contact experiences with the group. (3) They will differ relative to group experiences and attitudes after attending meetings for a few weeks. Data to test these hypotheses was collected from 252 persons with severe drinking problems. Of these, 119 were AA affiliates, while 133 were not. Responses to a list of statements were manipulated statistically to determine if there was any relationship between them and affiliation as contrasted to non-affiliation. There is revealed a 3-stage process of affiliation with AA: (1) pre-meeting experiences, (2) initial meeting experiences, (3) those immediately after going. If an alcoholic conceives of himself as a defeated alcoholic who can share his personal problems with others; if he had previously lost his drinking friends; if he lacked a model of "will power" provided by a respected friend or relative who had quit drinking by himself; and if he had been exposed to the favorable communication that AA members were sincere, he was in a favorable position to affiliate. Given these preparatory features, the process of affiliation is further affected by certain 1st contact experiences. If an alcoholic has an accurate expectation of the nature of AA meetings; if he lacks sensitivity to social class symbols; if his readiness to join is composed of values that supersede the "pleasures" of drinking; if he had experienced a closeness of contact with members upon 1st attending, the affiliative process is well underway. The process culminates in experiences that take place after attending meetings for a few weeks. If, at this time, the alcoholic has taken part in informal activities; if he replaces his drinking associates with others; and if the support of the wife (or girl friend) is present, the process of affiliation becomes "locked-in". In the study, barriers to affiliation were deduced. The combination of a self-conception uncertain of defeat and an excess of contact with an esteemed relative or friend who "quit by his own will power" presents an intense barrier to affiliation. Other obstacles may operate in conjunction with these. From these considerations a form of pre-A.A. group therapy for clinics and hospitals is suggested, aiming at reducing barriers to affiliation. Conclusions regarding attraction to groups in general, and differential association in particular, are also present in the data.[long dash]From auth. abst.