The Triumph of Addiction Recovery in the Breakdown of the Bicameral, Addictive Voice, or, Who Killed Julian Jaynes?

During the 1980’s, Jack Trimpey founded the second largest recovery group network in history, Rational Recovery, extending into 1000 cities. His plan to provide an alternative to the ubiquitous 12-step recovery group movement was thwarted when it became apparent to him that recovery groups aggravate addiction and actually stand in the way of prompt recovery through planned, permanent abstinence. He subsequently disbanded the RR recovery group network, replacing therapeutic discussion with Addictive Voice Recognition Technique® (AVRT®), an aggressive thinking skill which forces upon the addict the choice between addiction and prompt, full recovery through planned, permanent abstinence.

In this short book, Mr. Trimpey examines intriguing parallels between AVRT-based recovery and the emergence of modern man from his prehistoric, bicameral ancestors as described by the observations and theories of cultural anthropologist Julian Jaynes in his seminal book, The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. Jaynes’ proposed transition of homo sapiens from brute animal to conscious human being runs parallel to the progression from party animal to family member easily seen in AVRT-based recovery. Here, Mr. Trimpey makes the striking assertion that substance addiction is regression to bicamerality precipitated by the mind-blowing pleasures of hedonic drugs, and that addiction recovery originates in the breakdown of the bicameral, Addictive Voice identified in AVRT®. Adding intrigue to this spirited discussion, Mr. Trimpey proposes that Dr. Jaynes apparent death from alcohol addiction may have ironically resulted from his lack of authorization to quit drinking, which is endemic to 12-step oriented, mainstream culture.

Readers in addiction or in recovery will find here a unique presentation of AVRT® for personal benefit, and clinicians and scholars can inform themselves of the growing movement away from the clinical disease/treatment paradigm and toward independent, family centered recovery.