“The
affiliates seemed to be behaving toward themselves on the basis
of reference points that defined problem sharing as a desirable
practice. In turn, these reference points meshed harmoniously with
the group reference points of A.A. One of the prominent norms of the
group is intimate sponsorship, "telling one's story," and
"getting it off your chest." A large part of A.A. therapy
lies in the emotion-sharing group discussions that precede and follow
more formal meetings. Since the non-affiliates were not characterized
by self conceptions that dovetailed with these group norms, it seems
logical to conclude that the absence of these conceptions constituted
a barrier to affiliation. Those having self-perceptions similar to
A.A. norms, however, affiliated.”
“There
appears to be an attraction
to a group when the conceptions of self held by the individual
coincide with the norms of that group. When these two do not
coincide, it seems likely that attraction will be lowered. Every
group structure provides definitions of action for its members,
through its role expectations. Each individual personality develops a
conception of himself that is, in part, a reflection of the
role-expectations assigned in many groupings. If there is a
consistency between the self-conceptions that a person brings to a
group and the role expectations of that specific group, attraction is
promoted. This is demonstrated by the high rate of affiliation among
those alcoholics who had a conception of themselves that dovetailed
with the expectations of A.A. membership, and the low rate among
those who did not.”
Source:
Sociological Factors in Association with Alcoholics Anonymous,
Trice
HM, Journal Criminal Law and Criminology, Vol.48, 378- 386, 1957
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