The principle of “attraction, not promotion” has been a foundational tenet guiding Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) since its inception. This principle emphasizes AA’s inherent value and effectiveness, drawing individuals seeking help through the power of personal testimony and -genuine connection. This principle has played a critical role in AA’s success and provides concrete examples of its application within AA groups.
The Historical Roots of “Attraction, Not Promotion”
The principle of attraction over promotion was born from lessons from the Washingtonian Society, a 19th-century temperance organization. Founded in 1840, the Washingtonians initially experienced rapid growth by focusing on one drunk talking to another, a model similar to AA. However, they eventually expanded their mission to include various social reform causes, from temperance to prison reform and even political advocacy. This shift diluted their focus, leading to internal divisions and eventual downfall.
Bill Wilson, cofounder of AA, was acutely aware of the Washingtonians’ history. He recognized that for AA to succeed, it needed to maintain a single-minded focus: helping alcoholics achieve sobriety through mutual support. Wilson also realized that alcoholics often resist being told what to do, rebelling against authoritative or prescriptive approaches. Instead, he saw the power of sharing personal experiences-what worked and what didn’t-in fostering genuine connections and promoting sobriety.
Bill Wilson’s Early Insights
Bill Wilson’s journey to sobriety underscored the importance of talking to another alcoholic. In 1934, after repeated failed attempts to stay sober, Wilson experienced a profound spiritual awakening while hospitalized for alcoholism. Despite this experience, he struggled to maintain his sobriety until he met Dr. Bob Smith, another alcoholic. The two men discovered that sharing their experiences, struggles, and successes in dealing with alcoholism created a powerful bond and reinforced their commitment to sobriety. This mutual support became the bedrock of AA’s philosophy.
Wilson’s insight was simple yet profound: alcoholics need to connect with others who have walked the same path. This connection is not about giving advice or issuing directives but sharing personal stories, experiences, strengths, and hopes. This approach respects the autonomy of individuals and avoids the pitfalls of coercion, which often leads to rebellion among alcoholics.
The Principle in Action: How AA Groups Thrive
The principle of “attraction, not promotion,” is vital for the health and growth of AA groups. Here are some concrete examples of how AA groups apply this principle to ensure they remain welcoming, supportive, and focused on genuine recovery.
1. Welcome Committees and Greeters:
- Practice: Establishing a welcome committee and assigning a greeter at each meeting to ensure newcomers feel valued and comfortable. Each member is responsible for welcoming all the newcomers, but establishing a service position such as this ensures no one is missed.
- Impact: This creates a friendly and supportive atmosphere, encouraging newcomers to return. A warm welcome can make a significant difference for someone attending their first meeting, making them feel seen and accepted without pressure.
- Question for Your Group: Do you have a service position that welcomes newcomers?
2. Newcomers Packets:
- Practice: Providing newcomers packets with information about AA, meeting schedules, and personal stories of recovery.
- Impact: These resources help newcomers understand what AA offers without feeling pressured, allowing them to learn at their own pace. The information is there when they are ready, respecting their journey and autonomy.
- Question for Your Group: Do you have a newcomer packet for newcomers?
3. Focus on Anonymity:
- Practice: Emphasizing anonymity to create a safe space where members can share openly without fear.
- Impact: Ensuring confidentiality builds trust and attracts those who may be ashamed or afraid to seek help. Anonymity reassures members that their participation in AA remains private, fostering a sense of security.
- Question for Your Group: Does your group emphasize anonymity at the public level?
4. Carrying the Message:
- Practice: Focusing on the group’s sole purpose of carrying the message to the newcomer aligns with AA’s primary goal.
- Impact: This ensures that the group remains mission-focused, providing genuine support and assistance to those in need. It reminds members of AA’s core purpose, keeping efforts aligned and preventing mission drift.
- Question for Your Group: Is carrying the message to the newcomer your primary purpose?
5. Adherence to the 12 Traditions:
- Practice: Always guiding the group’s actions according to the 12 traditions of AA.
- Impact: This maintains the integrity and unity of the group, ensuring that individual actions do not compromise the group’s welfare. The 12 traditions provide a framework for decision-making and group behavior, preserving the spirit and purpose of AA.
- Question for Your Group: Does your group consult the 12 traditions in all your decisions?
6. Coffee and Snacks:
- Practice: Offering coffee and snacks at meetings as a welcoming gesture. It’s been said that some come for the coffee until they can stay for the message.
- Impact: This tradition creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, helping newcomers feel at ease and encouraging social interaction. It is a simple yet effective way to show hospitality and make meetings more enjoyable.
- Question for Your Group: Do you have a service position that ensures coffee and snacks are available?
7. Use of Public Service Announcements (PSAs):
- Practice: Using simple PSAs in media like videos, newspapers, or radio to inform the public about AA’s availability.
- Impact: PSAs raise awareness without aggressive promotion, ensuring those needing help know where to find it. These announcements are informational rather than promotional, providing a public service by highlighting the availability of AA.
- Question for Your Group: Does your group do everything possible to ensure newcomers know how to find you?
8. Pamphlets and Brochures:
- Practice: Distributing pamphlets and brochures to answer questions for those interested in attending meetings.
- Impact: These materials provide valuable information in a non-intrusive way, helping potential members make informed decisions. They serve as a resource for those curious about AA, offering insights without pressure.
- Question for Your Group: Are pamphlets and brochures available and emphasized in your group to help newcomers answer questions?
The Risks of Ignoring “Attraction, Not Promotion”
Ignoring the principle of “attraction, not promotion” can have detrimental effects on AA groups, old-timers, and newcomers. Groups have dissolved because they have gotten away from this principle. Here are some potential pitfalls:
1. Ignoring Group Unity:
- Problem: Allowing individual rights to trump group welfare and unity.
- Consequence: This can create conflicts and divisions within the group, undermining its effectiveness and cohesion. The focus must remain on collective well-being, ensuring a supportive environment.
- Question for Your Group: Are you doing everything possible to enhance the group’s welfare instead of getting your way?
2. Focusing on Outside Issues:
- Problem: Discussing outside issues such as politics, religion, and non-conference-approved literature during meetings.
- Consequence: Such discussions can alienate newcomers who may feel compelled to adopt certain beliefs or affiliations. It is crucial that no one feels pressured to study the Bible, profess any religious beliefs, or belong to any political party. AA’s strength lies in its singular focus on recovery from alcoholism.
- Question for Your Group: Does your group address outside issues in meetings when they come up?
3. Threatening Activities:
- Problem: Allowing behaviors that some perceive as an unsafe environment, such as inappropriate language, sexual advances, or threatening behavior.
- Consequence: Such activities can make members uncomfortable and unsafe, driving them away. Establishing a sense of safety is paramount to ensuring that everyone feels welcome and supported.
- Question for Your Group: Does your group address threatening behaviors and resolve following the 12 traditions?
4. Aggressive Recruitment Tactics:
- Problem: Directly approaching individuals in public spaces to recruit them to AA.
- Consequence: This can make people feel uncomfortable and pressured, negatively impacting the group’s reputation. People may perceive the group as pushy or invasive, driving potential members away.
- Question for Your Group: Does your group recruit alcoholics before they’re ready?
5. Celebrity Endorsements:
- Problem: Using celebrities to endorse AA publicly. Generally, this can be done by posting celebrity quotes or videos to social media or other publicity methods.
- Consequence: Such endorsements can create a perception of AA as a branded entity rather than a support group, potentially alienating those seeking genuine help. It shifts the focus from mutual support to image management.
- Question for Your Group: Does your group use celebrity endorsements to enhance the AA status?
6. Public Fundraising Events:
- Problem: Hosting large public fundraisers for the group.
- Consequence: This shifts the focus from mutual support to financial goals, distracting from AA’s primary purpose and potentially eroding trust. Members may feel the group is more interested in money than helping people. Plus, there is an obvious issue with anonymity when participating in public gatherings.
- Question for Your Group: Does your group rely on outside public fundraisers and donations?
7. Compromising Anonymity:
- Problem: Failing to maintain the anonymity of members by sharing names or personal details publicly.
- Consequence: Breaching anonymity can destroy trust and make members feel unsafe, decreasing participation. Anonymity is crucial in maintaining a safe space for members.
- Question for Your Group: Does your group protect individual anonymity in public spaces?
The principle of “attraction, not promotion” is vital for Alcoholics Anonymous’s success and integrity because it fosters a welcoming, anonymous, and supportive environment that appeals to both newcomers and long-time members. This approach naturally draws individuals seeking help without the need for aggressive promotion. By focusing on personal connections and genuine support, AA creates a safe space where members feel valued and respected, encouraging continued participation and engagement.
Bill Wilson’s early insights and the historical lessons from the Washingtonians highlight the importance of maintaining a singular focus on mutual support and recovery. Adhering to this principle ensures that AA groups stay true to their mission, providing a safe and effective space for everyone in need, from those just beginning their journey to those who have been in recovery for many years.