Alcoholics Anonymous and Spiritual Recovery: A Cultural Perspective

Abstract

Spirituality and culture overlap in supporting recovery in such areas as altered states, altruism, belief, and meaning. Conceiving recovery in spiritual and cultural terms facilitates development of recovery plans. The following are dimensions of recovery bridge spirituality and culture: (1) change in composition of the intimate social network, (2) transition from egotism to altruism, (3) evolution from anomie to positive self-identity, (4) prominence of time and misery in spiritual re-birth and reacculturation, and (5) Alcoholics Anonymous facilitation in accessing social support for sobriety, coping with the culture at large, and guiding spiritual rebirth and reacculturation.

KEYWORDS:

• acculturation
• altered state of consciousness
• altruism
• belief
• intimate social network
• meaning