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Seeing the Light: A Study of Conversion to Alcoholics Anonymous
Abstract
An examination of the process of conversion to Alcoholics Anonymous
(AA) & of the ways in which AA helps former alcoholics cope with
guilt about past misdeeds. Data were gathered in 1969 through
participant observation of two AA groups in Toronto. The process of
conversation usually takes place when the alcoholic has reached a
self-admitted moral bankruptcy. At this time, the S accepts the
"twelve steps" of the AA ideology, which are designed to
foster a spiritual regeneration. AA also helps the S mitigate his
feelings of moral failure by providing him with new social ties &
with acceptable accounts of his condition, which serve to legitimate
his new feelings of self-worth. M. Cain.
Journal
(1972)
vol1
no4
pages30-38
Categories
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Nonprofit Service Sectors
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Self-help Organizations
