So what you are saying is AA is a dogmatic cult like group.... :seg:
Yes, I'd say it's a cult-like group that definitely uses thought reform. Most people, even AA supporters, will concede that. What they do is justify it, saying that it's ok because it helps people. Well. If it doesn't help people, that whole argument falls apart and thats where you need to look at the hard data. Like you've cited in the past, there is significant evidence that for most people AA is worse than no treatment at all, often causing an increase in relapses (Brandsma, et al).
That being said, there is some evidence to suggest that AA can work well with people who already believe in fatalistic powerless over alcohol and who already believe in a benevolent higher power that gives a shit about us human beings (Peele). On the other hand, it works very badly for those who believe god gave us free will, those who are atheists/agnostics, or those who do not believe in a benevolent god (Peele again).
Those who believe god cursed them or doesn't care will "let go" and "god" won't catch them. Those who believe god doesn't exist are similarly screwed. They're told to let go knowing there is nobody there to catch them. Those who believe in free will are asked to change their beliefs... asked to accept they are powerless over their own actions. Some of these people can be "converted" but not without sacrificing their core beliefs and self concepts. Such conversion doesn't last long anyway, as thought reform never does.
It's my belief that those who whom AA "works" for were always partial to compatible belief system. For them it's not so much a thought reform process as it is a re-affirmation of what they believed to begin with. The same concept is true for Atheists, agnostics, believers in free will, and so on. For such people, alternatives to AA such as SMART, RR, and SOS work very very well because it works within their existing belief systems without using thought reform. People in AA NEED to realize they are doing harm by insisting it is the program for everybody and refusing to acknowledge or recommend alternatives.
Psy, now you were doing fine until you had to run off on this tangent. All were hearing here is your past control issues and how you don't like anything that smells of control.
As I have been explaining since I have got here is most of you have really have no idea what it is your talking about. Hard evidence is difficult to come by in the traditional sense. The bulk of you folks have a hard time with anecdotal evidence which is all your going to get with AA (or opinions from folks with a ax to grind or pitching their flavor of self help).
Psy, the most important part you missed here is your literal take on AA, If I am not mistaken your still in college and rather young and you have never had a addiction to really anything. Life is still untested, keep going my friend and please don't take life so seriously.
I have noticed one other peculiar oddity, everyone refers to AA when speaking in reference to a point ( They're told ). Who is "they're"


Who are these strange folks, Psy, who tell us all these negative thought reform tricks?

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The beautiful part that I always cherished about AA was Bills wish that it be suggestive, yes, Bill felt convincingly that he had found something that would help the desperate alcoholic but he also was smart enough to know that he had to keep the process to sobriety open for doubt. He wanted to write a very different book, be sure of that but Dr. Bob being a doctor knew there were no guarantees when it came to medical maladies so he encouraged be to be careful not to be a "know it all" when it came to Alcoholism. (As I do concerning AA...

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What you write about above, Psy, I have no idea sincerely where you get these thoughts. I do not believe they are yours from experience but rather from what you have read and anecdotal stories. I am fine with this, so long as you are but please don't pass your stories off as if you have done personal studies.
People as yourself can manipulate information with superb writing skills and relatively good retention levels of info, I say, "Bravo". You can not hide good common sense though, which you are not showing here. AA is not a program, clinic or T/C it is more or less a group of people who share a common goal, to stay sober. That's it.