Suchergebnisse

Reconsideration of a 1966 theory about the interplay between predisposed personalities and drinking groups in the genesis of alcoholism is presented. Observations about both sets of variables have been sustained and reinforced during the intervening years, and a new conceptualization of the nature of drinking groups is offered. The emergent perspective fits closely with differential association theory, and is then applied to job-based alcoholism programs to demonstrate the applicability of the perspective in the reversal of alcoholic behavior.

The fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous has successfully restored some 200,000 compulsive alcoholics to sobriety. Thousands more have tried to affiliate with A.A. but have failed. The movement, however, has spread through out the world and is still growing. Changes in the self-conception of members constitute the main therapeutic effect. Possession of an ability to adjust to the casual, informal group life of the fellowship characterizes those alcoholics who affiliate with A.A. in contrast with those who do not. Alcoholics Anonymous demonstrates the effectiveness of group processes in altering individual behavior. As such it indicates a technique for the treatment of degenerative diseases in general. Its success has renewed our realization that man is more than physiol ogy, that his ills can often be reduced by his involvement in face-to-face thera peutic groups.