May 1963

tion is taken that: “Nothing is gained that it has declared its independence and much can be lost by revealing a of professional helpers and healers, few of our defects to this one, a few religious and secular alike. Confesothers to that one, seeking out the sion to one person has been the keyperson who might be most tolerant note of much religious and psychiato those particular defects, and let- tric practice: i.e., the implication has ting no one see you as a whole per- been, “Talk to me, as a specially son.” It is not difficult to see what trained (or ordained) person, about the author of this statement had in your problems, and in this way you mind: namely, the possibility that can avoid the embarrassment of havthe guilt-ridden person will “shop ingothers know about them.” Herein, around” and never really “come of course, has lain much of the apclean” with anyone. WLG does not peal of both of these professions, and Are we really deny that this can, and probably it has been perhaps the main basis on <, does, happen. But he focuses in on which they have claimed compensaopening up .in a way what I, too, would regard as the more tion for a service rendered. But to bring rrs the greatest important problem: i.e., the danger herein also lies, I belicve, a major benefits?” of feeling that because we have made reason for the ineffectiveness of these a “good confession” to one person, professions in dealing with certain we are under no obligation, to our- types of personal and interpersonal selves or others, to keep growing in problems. by Dr. 0. Hobart Mowrer personal openness, integrity, and re- My conviction on this score comes ctrrtlror o f “The Crisis itr Psychicrtry urrtl Religion,” Research Professor of latedness. from long experience with the prob- Psyclrokogy. University o f Iklirrois The thrust of WLG’s argument lem of “neurosis” in general and, goes like this: “I think the AA who more recently, with a special kind of has had experience with a certain “group therapy” which assumes that type of wrong-doing is just the per- there is no magic at all in admitting son to talk to if we have the same “who we are” to one person unless s it enough, for ease of conscience we ( 1 ) progressively extend our I and amendment of life, to admit our wrong-doing to only one other problem or have committed the same transgressions. . . . I don’t see why a man has to confide only in one sponopenness to significant others in our lives, (2) take active steps to change human being? This is the question sor. . . . I think we might well amend our behavior and rectify past injuswhich is posed by “WLG” in the lead the Step, for personal use, to: ‘Ad- tices, and (3) become willing to use article in AA Grapevine for Octo- mitted to God, to ourselves and to at our new openness and strength in a ber, 1962. This question points to a least one other human being the ex- helping relationship with others. way in which I believe the AA pro- act nature of our wrongs.’ ” The im- WLG stresses the importance of a gram can be significantly strength- plication of this suggested change in guilty person contacting other indiened and further consolidated and wording is, of course, that the alco- viduals who have committed the extended. holic may profitably extend his con- some misdeed. “The very basis of The author of this article begins fession to several persons. AA is that no one who has not been by referring back to the July, 1961, One of the great virtues of AA is through the torments of alcoholism issue of Grapevine in which the posi-

himself can completely understand really.out of the woods until he has demeanors as he is asking the other this man would not shrink from getan alcoholic, right? Okay, let’s carry become open also about his guilty person to be about his. WLG is not ting down to the painful specifics. this a step farther, right inside AA.” secrecy and “closedness.” standing on a false dignity with any And if I were in trouble (as I once Interested “outsiders” have often Put a little differently, the point I man, and is willing to be known for was) and needed to learn to lead the asked me if, in the particular type of believe WLG and I are both trying precisely the person he is, and has new life of honesty, obligation, and group therapy with which 1am work- to make, basically, is that it is not been. For publication he is able to peace, here is a person to whom I ing, two persons must have commit- enough for a “sponsor” to be willing write: “When it comes to doing fool- could confidently turn. Here, too, is ted the same “sin” in order to be able to hear another ~erson’sadmission I ish and messy things, and unconven- a principle which I believe AA and to help one another. But I have rarely of wrongdoing, hd must also be will- tional misbehavior, I have had a lot other groups with “redemptive” inheard this question raised or dis- ing and able to share in the confes- of personal experience.” I am confi- tention can ponder, and apply, to cussed within our groups. We find sion of sin. Unless this happens, it dent that, in face-to-face relationship, good effect. that the specific wrongs in one’s life has been my experience that, try as don’t seem to be as important, in this he will, the troubled person cannot connection, as the more over-arching fully reveal himself-in fact, does fact that we have all been involved not fully know himself. WLG, in rein deceit, cheating, hypocrisy. This is sponding to a 1961 article, says: what made our specific misdeeds, and “I don’t think any of us can truly , their continued concealment, pos- ‘let anyone else see us as a whole I sible in the first place; and the critlcal person.’ We don’t know what lies thing to share, we find, is this sin- under the surface of the mind, to beand the “good news” that escape gin with. Only God sees us as a from its bondage is possible! ‘whole person.’ ” I agree that, prior I recognized, of course, that addic- to achievingopenness with others, we tion to alcohol involves certain ex- don’t know who we really, fully are; periences and problems that are un- and I would say further that a satisfamiliar to the rest of us. But, as I see factory degree of openness, with anit, WLG is trying to go beyond this other, is not achieved unless there is level and “get behind” the drinking confession and free communication as such, to an older, deeper problem both ways. -the problem that made intoxica- WLG says: “I have been the retion so appealing in the first place. I cipient of many confidences that doubt if anyone ever whips the prob- would shock the well-creased pants lem of alcohol (or “neurosis”) until off some of our more staid members. he becomes radically open and hon- This seems to be one of the fields est. where I can ‘carry the message’ best.” A criticism which is sometimes But the rapport which is thus estableveled against AA-not, I think, lished comes, I think, not because without some justification-is that its WLG and his new friends have members often become open about necessarily committed the same (spetheir past drinking but not much else. cific) sins; it is rather because WLG I would say that an alcoholic is not can be as open about his own mis-