Alcoholics Anonymous in Iceland

281 Pages·2012·4.9 MB·English

by  Hildigunnur Ãfilafsdóttir

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ALCOIIOLICS ANONYMOUS IN ICELAND,

iia yuna

Tait
sen Google
HIpicunnur OxaFsporme

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

IN ICELAND

FROM MARGINALITY TO
MAINSTREAM CULTURE.

TASKGLATIEGAFAN 2000
over ston: Mara Maia nie

Caprinh 8 by THLinvamne Onketrie00

Goce Desig by: Waive Ks Post
Pred land

Nepart of th publ may he epiuce see na real te, tant
mcd nny Farm or by ty man, erin, chun, oars, wikaoe he
Soca puso of thew od pbs

Ison: pT SOR,
CONTENTS

Fanewcnd

Preface

ct

wv.

Intinduction ve
1. The eaceech projec: he badegzound
2. Yhe basic search appronea,

She scope and delimicaions ofthe dy
44. Outline of the book

Iceland: The counery and ies people
1T-Geoprapbie postion

2. Brom independen.e to demaceacy

5, Leonomy and living sandacds
A.Calvual valor a vw Uke

5, Mutual belp

6 Social mmvenenus

7. Tae postion of alcobol

‘Tie beginning and the basis of AA.
1. The ergin.

2A prognim for recovery

3. The organizstonal structure

Aasoxe,

5. Al-Anon, Alsveen ond other 1? -eep groope
6: Toseratignal iainn

(Dara cotlectinn mettods
1, Making coatace with AS
2 etervinws.

5. Oe reac
4 Surveys

5. Weiner secon

Orginizatioual principles of AA

UselPsefinal memaere
2. The givup a che autononsous negenizacionl aaie

5
VL

vu.

vu.

3. No affiliation and sel-suppor.
4. Bqualey and democracy

5. Averys

6. Unity

icocical developmen of AA in Leeland

1. The powitinn of leeland inthe international
diision of AA

2. "The heginning.

5 The es ats: 1954-1965

4.1 the doldrums 19641974,

5. The groweh and its pain: 1975-1900,

Dimensions of the development

“The scructure and activities of AA
1. The groupe asthe basic unic

2. Regional and nacional service strucrare
3. Among foreign fiends

4. Translating and publishing acvities.

‘The AA meeting
1. The fanevions

2. Thescuting

3. Dynamic of the meccings

4. The AA-meering sens therapeadi session

‘Alcohotisa trentment and AA
1. Gaze prosided by lw.

2 Batlyinvolvemenc wich slcoholism eecsmene
3. Facing ehe new T2.stepIrestent

4. Acting oa the organiratonsl level

5 Alocholicyw alcoholism counsellors

6 Aftercare only

2. The boundaries of AA

8. The parndox of rise and decir

‘The members of AA,
1. Pathways to AA

2. Demographic and sci charnceristis
53. Drinking and deug problem.

4 The phaneol'the AA creer

5 Drop sar al AA

6 Wornen oe AA wns

7A booed geoup,
XI. Transformation of identity and AA.
1 Powered dace nat
2. Spiral and religion
3. Wooking ee rwelvesreps
4 Sioryeling,
5. Building 2 social necwork

|. The slarionship berween AA and sociery
1. AA in the genealogical soiery

2. Inspiration en acer 12-sep groupe

5. Actaping Ihe AA pregram ro the culeure

4. Gronps as building blocks

2AM, Conclusion
1 The role of AA ia che alcoholism moverseat
2. Characteristic fearures of che Icelandic AA
3 AA acing che furure

Appendix A. The Taelve Steps and The Tiere Tein,
“Appendis B, The AA Preamble

“Appendix C. The Serenity Prayer

References

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sen Google
ForEworD

Alcoholics Anonymous is an inreational community which io the one
Ibund sromgly chnrterecized by ire Amezicn otgine aud onthe other hid
stoped Ty the parle concise amos hat sve i ee
rence in che various cauntrcs and cultutes where ic has become established
On she following pages Tlildiguanue Ober presents che iatraving
cise of elaulic AA I iste of sarcess, 8 diced in uhesbte a chit
seuly: Hoes Margiaalcy en Mainstecam Cuteas. Ac the same cine eis &
stmunge -almostpacidoncal- ae becuse che succes of felondic AA is par
tally achicwed by elinguaing irs conceal and highly deamace so asthe
fdynaonc force which moved she individas pactiespanes towards thee all-
Jmporene decitioa co become eober ‘Tie w9s done in fivour ots preven
cy ole uF muppomeey organization ro alcublien whe Tae gone ebrongh
insccarinal esarenent andre alceady resolved wo stay ser when they are
cnfionted wich AA for che ise time

‘The feelandic AA has other seemingly paradoxical aspects. The veep
sume of che comuannity fr fellowship which is che preteced AA eerm}of
ours indiares ch canes promise of anonvmity of che porciapans. et, 2
Glatt expling, anonymiry is prvticlly yeatvimabe in Felande
secring. Alchauph chis would appear co bea rater formidable obstacle 10
the succesful cecdblihment of AA we fad that AA it Keland is none
Sune, in relative terme, chan AA in shy ncher cnuntty? Thi ae wat
complished ly spplying levalsaluiony ene of sion Deng he aubattar
en af contalaniley for anonymity anothee being geeate isbility af lad
jing AA fest you will normaly ind in other couseres, Te ies wi
the esablshed cligion may’ also be ¢stomg.explanazneyractar in che sac-
cess story of eelendic AA.

‘AA in many ws has aca ember riggs maemenes. there
ae sacted conte an hallow ruling. A& eaceings Funeding esac
jsand AA engages ina ectta kind of paoselyczing. Ac te same time AA,
1s quite clearly disingaishable from religious cule, scr or congaegacions,
‘This poses soue highly interesting sociological questions which are
selceted i he sa.

Hillfgunnnir Oats provide swith Hilal dete
analysis of Telundic AA. Her perapecerve ig Iriel and comparator
alwuyy impregnated wh ccglngaeal eigen Ae a womeequerse cae
lemonade and undertinding nF AA an general at Inland AAS pari

8