IT DOESN’T TAKE A GENIUS –
Jan. 29, 2026 – In my 25 years as an academic psychologist, I witnessed negative attitudes toward 12-step programs many times. During informal conversations, at scientific conferences, and in published research, AA was often viewed skeptically, for reasons I elaborate below. These views—now distributed widely across the internet can lead people who need help to decide 12-step programs aren’t worth trying. After all, shouldn’t social scientists know best? A distinguishing feature of science is internal consistency—using the same methods, rules, and standards to address all scientific questions. Without internal consistency, one cannot be objective, something scientists pride themselves on and seek to apply in their work. Since one can always find conflicting results in social science, our task is to seek out and objectively interpret the most rigorous studies—those that use careful measurement, incorporate thorough follow-ups, and enroll large numbers of people.
In 1989, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) launched Project MATCH—the largest, most rigorous treatment study of alcohol use disorder ever conducted. Over 1,700 patients were enrolled in either a 12-step-focused, cognitive behavioral, or motivational intervention.
