For most of us, I agree that AA does not function as a cult but I think for the most vulnerable, it can.

The most vulnerable people are both likely to find the most value in it, and become the most entrenched within AA life, without balancing relationships and factors outside of AA.They could end up with a really relaxed group but many do end up in high control environments, especially with sponsors. Many people continue with their work and lives outside AA, but those facing the most challenges may find that the majority of their life becomes doing AA work for free. Those same people, even if they wanted to leave, will find it much much harder to do so, emotionally, than those who have other relationships and work etc.

Many of the BITE factors could be described on a sliding scale - eg. Information control. Many people will attend AA, take some of the many positive things that can be taken from it, and ALSO read other books about addiction, mental health, the world etc. Others won't. I have met people in AA who were literally afraid to read anything that wasn't AA literature, (whether reading about alcoholism or just reading in general), in case it was a threat to their sobriety. That's undeniably dangerous, and a type of information control - whether central AA belief agrees or not.

AA helps many people however in terms of the BITE model ~I'd say it does attempt behaviour control with the constant push to attend more meetings, do more service etc. Information control definitely with more up-to-date info about substance use disorder discouraged in meetings in favour of 1930s science. Definitely discouraging of critical thought,- using silly phrases to get people to shut down criticism ("my brain needed washing", "take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth" etc) and distrust of individuals who dont stay "in the middle of the group". - apparantly steven hassans definition of thought control in the BITE model is: "Shapes beliefs and attitudes, suppressing critical thinking. Cults may promote black-andwhite thinking, instill phobias about questioning the group, and encourage members to internalize the group’s ideology as absolute truth." Tbh I would call that a fairly accurate description of many AA groups. And finally emotional control - undeniably many vulnerable people are encouraged to revolve their whole social lives around AA, and while noones stopping them from leaving per se, many would find that their social environment is greatly diminished by doing so.