Forest Hill tops neighbourhoods for adulterers: Website

By: Ophelie Zalcmanis-Lai-  Print and Online Version

 

TORONTO – Forest Hill has the highest percentage of individuals engaging in extramarital affairs, according to AshleyMadison.com.

The dating website for married people says based on 200,000 members who live in Toronto, new data shows record numbers of cheaters in The Beaches, Rosedale, downtown and other well-known GTA neighbourhoods.

“You move into Forest Hill, are surrounded by affluence, you’re talking about it in golf clubs and you get sucked into it,” Noel Biderman, CEO and founder of the website, said Thursday. “We’re just the publishers — we’re calling it as we see it.”

Biderman said that it’s relevant for any city to take a look at which neighbourhoods have higher rates of infidelity, and what aspects play into that. Certain things like having the income to travel frequently, spending extended periods of time apart for work or having nannies to watch the children help facilitate opportunities to have an affair.

When a marriage provides for wealth, a roof over someone’s head and general security in life, individuals aren’t willing to sacrifice that just for action in the bedroom, he said. Actually, Biderman thinks an affair might benefit a marriage.

“When people separate monogamy from marriage, they don’t get divorced as often,” he said. “Why are we trying to preach monogamy if we’re so bad at it?”

Nicole McCance, relationship expert and psychotherapist, begs to differ.

“In those scenarios where people are convinced that cheating can help, someone always gets hurt,” McCance said. “A breach of trust like that impacts all parts of a relationship.”

When couples sit down with her, McCance finds that cheating is always a symptom of greater problems in a relationship and that it’s used to fill the voids created by those issues. Her advice is to work on open communication from both partners in a relationship.

One thing both Biderman and McCance agree on is that personality is a big factor. Risk taking, and the enjoyment of the adrenaline rush associated with that, tends to be a common strain within those of affluence. When success is a part of that, it’s tempting to keep taking those risks.

“Culturally, there’s a sense of acceptance,” said McCance. “The definition of faithfulness or infidelity is looser in wealthier areas than in other neighbourhoods.”