Modeled after and including Alcoholics Anonymous, the Twelve Step approach emphasizes spirituality, abstinence, public confession to abstinent peers, and fellowship with other appetitive-disordered individuals. The relationship between impulsivity, empathy and substance-free lifestyle and participation in Twelve Step self-help groups is investigated. Utilizing S.B.G. Eysenck at al.s' Impulsivity Questionnaire (1-7), members of three self-help clubs were assessed for traits of empathy and impulsiveness. Impulsivity correlated positively with total number of substance abuse slips and negatively with total months of substance abstinence. Empathy on the other hand correlated positively with length of abstinence and hour spent in Twelve Step activities per week. Possible interpretations and application of these findings are discussed. 1 table. 6 references. (Author abstract modified)