How were the 12 steps from AAA developed?

Answer 1

The 12 steps of AA were developed by trial and error. Two drunks got together and decided to help each other get sober. As they worked through the program, they wrote down the steps they figured out. They came up with their program of one drunk helping another.

Some psychologists have found fault with the 12 steps but have never created a better program strictly involving laymen. They think a professionally run program can do better and perhaps it can. However, it gets away from the idea of one drunk helping another. Court ordered participation does not work. Those ordered to go by the court do not go willingly. They do not bring food to the covered dish suppers. The rest refuse to get involved with them. The court wrecks the program unless the volunteers keep their own activities secret. So the 12 steps were worked out by the drunks themselves.