12 steps is the recovery process of Alcoholics Anonymous. There is the 12 steps and the 12 traditions. These developed over time because to start with alcoholics just met together sharing their stories for strength and support to stay sober with each other. Then they slowly wrote their stories and put them in the Big Book. It went from a structure of about 6 steps to 12. It has evolved to where because of its anominoty it is used by other support groups. Grab a big book and read it some time. tc (you can on line for free)