An article by Maia
Szalavitz published in The Fix
Some (more pertinent)
extracts:
“A small but significant
number of 12-step groups—from AA to addiction treatment
centers—turn into dangerous cults. How can working the program take
a wrong turn? …...12-step programs—with their clichéd language,
frequent meetings and religious mien—are cults. So say many
critics. But in fact, the traditions of AA, NA and the other As are
intentionally structured to prevent their members from crossing that
line. Nonetheless, there is a reliable way to use the steps to create
a full-fledged destructive cult. ....the repeated development of
cults or near-cults—from Synanon
to Straight Inc. to today’s Washington, DC, Midtown Group—based on the steps is not coincidental. The
reason is a toxic compound created when AA’s voluntary steps are
twisted so that they can be imposed by force, especially in
settings where people cannot escape.”
“To rise through the
levels toward graduation, participants have to demonstrate
compliance by imposing the rules on others and emotionally attacking
their fellows to help break them [eg. via the cult 'cascade sponsorship' system] …...So how do the use of
attack therapy and forcing the steps on people inspire cult
formation?”
“Step 1: It starts with
the first step. Voluntarily admitting you are powerless is relatively
harmless (although there’s some evidence
that this belief as part of the disease model of addiction is linked
with worsening relapse). By contrast, however, being forced into a
position of absolute powerlessness is what defines a traumatic
experience, and so it can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
and related psychological problems, like depression. And traumatizing
people is an excellent way to break their will and turn them into
compliant followers.”
“Steps 2 and 3: When
imposed coercively, these principles make matters worse. Again,
voluntarily surrendering to a “higher power” can feel healing for
many—but being forced to submit to human beings who make
themselves and their program into your higher power is far less
benign. Believing that surrendering your will and even your life
to the leadership is the only path to recovery results in
overwhelming vulnerability.”
“Not only is this
dangerous for the victims, but it is also risky for leaders who
are convinced that they “know best” and their program is so
effective that they are justified in using any means necessary to
“help” people.”
“Steps 4, 5 and 10: Now,
add in the demands for the confession of sins and for an ongoing
moral inventory and you have an additional method of controlling
people. Most religious cults focus on confession because knowing
members’ darkest desires and most shameful secrets increases the
power of the leaders. Not only can frequent confessions enable the
blackmail [of] dissenters, but they can also train participants to
focus so relentlessly on their own failings that they have no energy
left for criticism or resistance of the group itself.”
“Steps 6 and 7: And
these principles add an even more poisonous element: when imposed by
force, humility becomes humiliation and defects of character become
weak spots to attack. Public humiliation and emotional barrages
aimed at humbling people can be traumatizing. When employed
explicitly to break someone, such attempts to “remove” a person’s
“shortcomings” makes him or her even more vulnerable to the
leaders’ influence.”
“Step 11: While they may
seem utterly harmless, prayer and meditation sadly further aid this
type of coercion: For one, forced meditation can exacerbate
conditions like depression. While voluntary meditation is liberating,
coercive isolation in imposed silence is known to quite literally
drive people crazy.”
“Step 12: Topping off
the process is the demand to “carry the message” to others.
Social psychology research shows that trying to convert other people
to your perspective is only rarely successful in attracting
followers— but it is incredibly good at convincing the person
doing the proselytizing that their own cause is correct. Even
when people are made to argue a side with which they disagree,
studies show that with enough repetition they often come to believe
what they’re saying.”
“One further ingredient
makes this stew even more toxic. It is an inconvenient truth that
in the addicted population, people with antisocial personality
disorder (ASPD) and outright psychopathy are over-represented.
These people enjoy wielding power over others and quickly learn to
use the hierarchy and the emotional attacks to their advantage. The
most charismatic rise to the top and become the leadership, often
being assigned to run new branches of the program or leaving to
open dangerous programs of their own.”
“The steps provide an
unfortunate guide for unethical people who want to control others via
coercive tactics.”
“Forcing these spiritual
principles that were designed to be voluntary on unwilling people in
recovery always carries the risk of descending into cultish behavior.
Research demonstrates that such coercion can backfire, worsening
addiction and that kinder, gentler methods that respect
self-determination are more effective.”
“The 12 steps truly
are for people who want them, not for those who we limited humans
(who are assuredly not higher powers) believe need them—unless your
goal is to start a cult. In that case, study up!”
(our emphases)
Comment: None needed.
However we support the recommendation (and especially because
of these “inconvenient truths”) - that AA members do indeed
“Study up!” (albeit to a different end)….. and
soon!
Cheerio
The Fellas (Friends of
Alcoholics Anonymous)
