The Science (and Modern Language) Behind the 12 Steps

Recovery Discovery Podcast

The 12 Steps have guided recovery for nearly a century—but their 1930s, Christian-centric language doesn’t always resonate in today’s diverse recovery landscape.

Psychologist Dr. Jorga Jamison, professor at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies, invites us to reimagine these steps through science, psychology, and inclusive language that honors both spirituality and evidence-based healing.

“We are wired to make meaning and to connect. That’s what spirituality really is—our biology’s way of remembering that we belong.”
— Dr. Jorga Jamison

Step 1 — Acceptance

Original: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol…”
Reframed: We accepted that addiction changes brain wiring, and willpower alone can’t restore balance.
Science: Addiction alters reward and impulse control systems, quieting rational decision-making. Step 1 is neuroscience, not weakness.

Step 2 — Hope & Help

Original: “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
Reframed: Healing requires something beyond self—community, therapy, purpose, or shared humanity.
Science: Human survival depends on connection and meaning-making; belonging calms the nervous system and fosters recovery.

Step 3 — Surrender

Original: “Made a decision to turn our will over to God.”
Reframed: We committed to the process of change, trusting perspectives and tools outside our own.
Science: Surrender activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing chronic stress and enabling learning.

Step 4 — Self-Reflection

Original: “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory.”
Reframed: We examined our patterns with honesty and curiosity.
Science: Mirrors cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—identifying distorted thinking to reveal the beliefs driving behavior.

Step 5 — Release of Shame

Original: “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
Reframed: We shared our truth safely and replaced secrecy with connection.
Science: Speaking shame aloud reduces fear responses and increases oxytocin, the bonding hormone.

Step 6 — Readiness for Change

Original: “Were entirely ready to have God remove all defects of character.”
Reframed: We became ready to let go of survival habits that once helped but now harm.
Science: Readiness aligns with neural flexibility—creating space for new behaviors to form.

Step 7 — Humility

Original: “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”
Reframed: We practiced humility, opening ourselves to feedback and growth.
Science: Humility improves self-regulation and empathy, strengthening healthy social bonds.

Step 8 — Accountability

Original: “Made a list of all persons we had harmed…”
Reframed: We identified where our actions caused pain and prepared to make repair.
Science: Acknowledging harm activates prosocial brain circuits, increasing empathy and reducing defensiveness.

Step 9 — Repair

Original: “Made direct amends wherever possible.”
Reframed: We made meaningful repairs when possible, without causing further harm.
Science: Repair reduces guilt and increases dopamine and oxytocin—chemicals tied to trust and healing.

Step 10 — Daily Maintenance

Original: “Continued to take personal inventory…”
Reframed: We practiced daily self-awareness and made quick course corrections.
Science: Consistent reflection strengthens executive function and emotional regulation.

Step 11 — Conscious Contact

Original: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God.”
Reframed: We deepened mindfulness and presence through meditation, reflection, or stillness.
Science: Meditation enhances gray matter density in regions tied to emotional balance and focus.

Step 12 — Service

Original: “Having had a spiritual awakening… we tried to carry this message to others.”
Reframed: Having grown through recovery, we helped others heal too.
Science: Acts of service release endorphins and solidify community connection, anchoring long-term sobriety.

Why the Language Still Matters

The 12 Steps were born in a 1930s world of patriarchal norms and religious assumptions.
Reframing the language isn’t about rejecting spirituality—it’s about making space for all paths to connection: biological, social, or sacred.

When translated through science, every step becomes a universal process of transformation: awareness, acceptance, accountability, and action.

“Whatever I know isn’t enough anymore. Something has to shift—and I have to open up to receive new input.”
— DeAnn Knighton