Stake Theory as an Explanatory Device in Navajo Alcoholism Treatment Response

• Published in: Human organization 1976-01, Vol.35 (1), p.65-78
• Main Author: FERGUSON, FRANCES N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcohol abuse; Alcohol drinking; Alcoholic beverages; Alcoholic/Alcoholics/Alcoholism; Alcoholism; Alcoholism - therapy; Conformity; Deviant behavior; Drunkenness; Humans; Indians, North American; Male; Native Americans; New Mexico; Social Adjustment; Social Conformity; Social Problems; Society, The, of; Treatment; Treatment programs; Treaty lands
• ISSN: 0018-7259; 1938-3525
• DOI: 10.17730/humo.35.1.a47387941v8g1441

The usefulness of "stake in society" theory, a form of transactional theory employed by John J. and Irma Honigmann to explain abandonment of frontier-type norms regarding alcohol use by modern Arctic townsmen, is tested in conjunction with differential response to treatment by a group of 110 Navajo alcoholic men. In a modified usage, "stake" is operationally defined by type. It is postulated that many of the men had suffered initial loss of stake in the context of lack of negative sanctions regarding heavy alcohol use in Navajo culture. Navajos who regained a stake in the old society during treatment tended to conform to new norms in the family context, while those who acquired concurrent stakes in both old and modern society were even more outstanding in their adherence to new norms. The failure of those with modern stake alone to acquire new norms regarding alcohol use is tentatively explained in terms of lack of a reference group other than the drinking fellowship, suggesting that what appears to be a preferable stake may not be regarded as such when it is in the context of what the Cornell study (Leighton et al. 1963) refers to as interference with essential striving sentiments of love and recognition, hence in such cases new norms will not take precedence over old. A model for the wider use of stake theory is presented. L'utilité de la théorie d' "Enjeu dans la Société", forme de théorie basée sur les rapports, employée par John J. et Irma Honigmann pour expliquer l'abandon de normes du type frontière en ce qui concerne l'usage d'alcool pour les habitants de l'arctique est examinée en corrélation avec les différentes réactions au traitement d'un groupe de cent dix Indiens Navajos alcooliques. Dans un emploi un peu modifié, "enjeu" est défini par le type. On suppose que, étant donné le manque de sanctions négatives en ce qui concerne l'usage d'alcool dans la culture Navajo, beaucoup de ces hommes ont perdu le sens initial d'enjeu. Les Indiens Navajos qui, pendant le traitement, retrouvèrent un enjeu dans la vieille société, eurent tendance à se conformer à de nouvelles normes dans le contexte de la famille, alors que ceux qui acquérirent des enjeux opposés à la fois dans la vieille et nouvelle société adhérèrent aux nouvelles normes d'une façon encore plus étonnante. On peut tenter d'expliquer comment ceux qui n'avaient que des "intérêts modernes" n'ont pas réussi á acquérir de nouvelles normes en ce qui concerne l'usage d'alcool, d'après le manque de