Abstract
This was a study of the social relations of alcoholic patients in a large mental hospital. The alcoholics were found to be cliquish and to segregate themselves from other patients. When compared with other patients, they are more interested in their surroundings, more competitive, more gregarious and have more of a common language. Some staff feel that the alcoholics are here for a “free ride” and create special problems. They also believe that alcoholics look down on other patients and joke about them behind their backs. However, the belief that alcoholics cause friction on the ward is held more by the staff than by nonalcoholic patients. The alcoholics themselves would prefer to be segregated from other patients rather than on a mixed admission ward. The hospital alcoholics and downtown AA members have positive feelings towards one another. There is some feeling that downtown AA members don't like to come to the hospital for meetings, and that some of the hospitalized alcoholics could be treated just as well outside. Observations over a several month period disclosed that the hospitalized alcoholics develop a high degree of group spirit and that this operates to gain conformity to AA principles and the therapeutic regime of the hospital. The alcoholics identify themselves with the respectable elements of society while the staff sees them as closer to the outcast and deviant elements of society.