Acknowledgements 1 Definitions, scope, and origin of the health-related self-help group movement 2 An international tour of addiction-related mutual help organizations 3 Does self-help group participation produce positive substance abuse, psychiatric, and medical outcomes? 4 A different perspective on change in self-help organizations: spirituality, identity, life stories, friendship networks, and politicization 5 Government, health care organization, and clinical interactions with self-help organizations Epilogue: summing up, moving forward References Index

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Circles of recovery : self-help organizations for addictions

A key problem in the study of voluntary action (voluntary participation, citizen participation, discretionary participation, social participation, common interest ac­ tivity, citizen involvement-all approximate synonyms as used here) is definition. While the struggle for greater definitional clarity as an important step toward developing adequate theories of voluntary action has brought about some agreement on what the definitional issues are, there has been little agreement on how to resolve them (e.g. Pennock & Chapman 1969; Smith, Reddy & Baldwin 1972: Part One; Meister 1972). The approach used here follows the line of Smith, Reddy & Baldwin (1972). Voluntary action is the action of individuals, collectivities, or settlements insofar as it is characterized primarily by the seeking of psychic benefits (e.g. belongingness, esteem, self-actualization) and by being discretionary in nature [not determined primarily by biosocial factors (physiological compulsions in their socialized forms), coercive factors (sociopolitical compulsions backed by a threat of force), or direct remuneration (direct, high-probability payment or benefits of an economic sort)]. This definition is rooted in the motivational theory of Maslow (1954), conforms fairly well to common sociological usage, is broad but not all-inclusive of human social behavior, defines voluntary action positively as well as negatively, is applicable at all major levels of system reference (shifting from individual motivation to a concern for goals as aggregated motivational intents at collectivity and settlement levels), applies fairly well across the usual disciplinary boundaries and intradiscipli­ nary compartments, is broadly connotative and analytical rather than narrowly denotative, is a matter of degree, not a qualitative distinction, and is not rooted in a particular limiting common sense paradigm of a single kind of voluntary action (e.g. "cult," "movement"). The behavior of any actor (individual, collectivity, settlement) can be described in terms of the relative extent to which it is rooted in voluntary intentions (motiva­ tions or goals), biosocial factors, coercive factors, and direct remuneration. Nearly

Voluntary Action and Voluntary Groups

Storytelling is an extremely common activity in the spiritually-based mutual help organization Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). This paper describes the typical content, function(s), and structure of five types of A.A. stories, devoting particular attention to the interplay between the A.A. community narrative and the life stories of individual members. The information presented here suggests that a narrative point of view can fruitfully guide future investigations of mutual help organizations at multiple levels of analysis. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Community narratives and personal stories in alcoholics anonymous

The transformation of personal identities is an implicit or explicit goal of many organizations, including “new” religious movements, self-help groups, “deprogramming” enterprises, rehabilitation programs, and others. This essay describes and accounts for one important structural feature of identity transformation organizations (ITOs): encapsulation. Three types of encapsulation are described–physical, social, and ideological–and reasons why different ITOs emphasize certain types of encapsulation rather than others are suggested. Finally, we discuss how the need for encapsulation may conflict with other organizational imperatives of ITOs and we discuss the implications of this organizational dilemma for the successful functioning of ITOs.

Social Cocoons: Encapsulation and Identity Transformation Organizations*

Grassroots associations (GAs) are defined as locally based and wholly volunteer nonprofits-essentially local voluntary associations, in sociological terms. Such associations are discussed in theoretical terms, examining pros and cons regarding their potential importance. On the basis of an extensive literature review, the internal impact of GAs involves the fostering of social support and mutual helping, stimulation and self-expression, happiness and health, sociopolitical activation, and economic and other outcomes among members. On the downside, some GA activity (eg., in delinquent gangs) can increase individual deviance among members. Externally, GAs often create positive change, enable continuing citizen participation in a democracy and a viable "civil society," provide varied services to nonmembers, help maintain societal cohesion, and can help in disasters. GAs also help support the economic system and stimulate program volunteering, philanthropic giving, and other GA activity. Cumutatively, grassro...

Grassroots Associations are Important: Some Theory and a Review of the Impact Literature

no longer felt any guilt. Lofland points to two major problems which individuals undergoing the profound change demanded by conversion often face: the problems of discontinuity (the loss of the old identity and meaning system) and guilt.4 In this paper we shall analyze the process of conversion to A.A. and its various phases, with special emphasis on the ways A.A. helps alcoholics to come to terms with their &dquo;sordid pasts,&dquo; that is, with discontinuity and guilt. Our general perspective is derived from Goffman, particularly his essay &dquo;On Cooling Out the Mark,&dquo;5 and the writings of Berger (1963) and Berger and Luckman (1967) on the social construction of reality.

Michael G. Petrunik

Papers

SEEING THE LIGHT: A Study of Conversion to Alcoholics Anonymous*