Spiritual Labor in Alcoholics Anonymous: A Model of Spiritual Discourse in Organizations

This paper builds on McGuire’s (2010) study of spiritual labor in parochial boarding schools. I transport the concept of spiritual labor to the study of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), an informal, peer-led and managed organization whose mission is to “carry the message of recovery to the alcoholic who still suffers.” McGuire finds that spiritual labor often leads to a sense of hypocrisy and dissonance, which can be exacerbated by low identification with the organization. I address two research questions: Is there evidence of spiritual labor in AA? If so, to what extent do members experience “dissonance and a sense of hypocrisy”? I explore these questions with a reading of AA literature, the AA Grapevine, and the AA Grapevine discussion forum. For members of AA spirituality is a foundational part of recovery. Stigma management aids entry into the organization. The ability of new members to incorporate AA’s spiritual discourse into their personal narratives is a key part of the identification process as well as...