ALCOHOLICS-ANONYMOUS AS SEEN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SELF PSYCHOLOGY

This study utilizes Heinz Kohut's self psychology concepts of mirrorin g, idealization and twinship to explain the ways in which Alcoholics A nonymous is helpful to its long-term members. Fourteen AA members with an average of 10 years of sobriety were interviewed Analysis of their responses suggests that mirroring is taking place when the members fe el they are seen for who they truly are and when they are a positive i nfluence in the lives of others. Idealization, whether of a sponsor, t he group, or of one's Higher Power, is in evidence when members tell o f feeling bolstered by identification with some greater source of stre ngth and wisdom and when they describe the re-parenting they receive f rom AA. Twinship is operating when members speak of the healing effect of belonging to the group and finding peers with similar experiences. The author encourages clinicians to attend AA meetings in order to en hance their own understanding of Alcoholics Anonymous and to better su pport their clients' participation in AA.