“Aims:
The aim of this study was to explore the roles of Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA) sponsors and to describe the characteristics of a
sample of sponsors.”
Extracts:
“The
roles of a sponsor, as delineated in this pamphlet [Questions and Answers on Sponsorship (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2005)].,
are summarized below:
- A sponsor does everything possible, within the limits of personal experience and knowledge, to help the newcomer get sober and stay sober through the AA programme.
- They field any questions the new member may have about AA.
- Sponsorship gives the newcomer an understanding, sympathetic friend when one is needed most—it assures them that at least one person cares.”
Sponsoring
roles:
Sponsorship styles:
“A
number of sponsors were of the view that the message of AA should be
delivered gently to sponsees. It seems that within the various
subcultures that exist in AA, some members can be quite harsh with
newcomers and some sponsors are perceived as ‘controlling’ by
their sponsees. One member admitted to having been a controlling
sponsor initially but now recognized that
this was the wrong approach.
When
I came in [to AA], I was very much a ‘step Nazi’. I told everyone
exactly what to do and fired them [i.e. stopped sponsoring them] if
they didn’t do what I said. (sponsor 14, male, 70 years old)”
“Sponsors who do not give advice directly use the mechanism of describing or sharing their personal experience of recovery as a way of guiding sponsees rather than telling them what to do. This approach is most in keeping with AA principles.
AA
guidance may be applied in a straightforward fashion when it relates
to sobriety. The message for sponsees is clear: do not drink, go to
meetings and work the programme of AA. However, a number of sponsors
recognized that their sponsees often needed help in areas of their
lives other than in maintaining sobriety. In these circumstances,
some sponsors were prepared to advise as long as the advice was
either sought by their sponsee or it was given within the principles
of AA. This seems to be a reasonable approach and not contradictory
to AA guidance.”
“Controlling
behaviour by sponsors
The
matter of advice giving may relate to the extent to which some
sponsors wish to impose their will on their sponsees. A number of
sponsors referred to what could be loosely described as their
controlling behaviour, often recognizing that it is unhelpful.
Sponsor 14 even referred to himself as a ‘step Nazi’. The term
‘controlling behaviour’ is not well described in the psychiatric
literature and is, perhaps, a lay term. However, AA literature refers
to this type of behaviour as ‘self-will run riot’, which it
believes to be at the core of ‘the disease’ of alcoholism.”
Comment:
It's interesting to note that the term 'step Nazi' has now migrated
into research literature. This will do wonders for AA's
reputation!
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
