According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 15 percent of married women and 25 percent of married men have admitted to having extramarital affairs. But other statistics suggest the numbers may be even higher than that. Psychologists have found that adultery is the cause of divorces in over 50 percent of cases. Being that it is such a persistent problem, Best Life delved into various data sources to determine where cheating is the most prominent. Yes, we crunched the numbers to find out the most adulterous state in America.
First, we compiled a list of the number of Ashley Madison users per 1,000 people in each state. In 2015, the extramarital affair site experienced a breach when hackers made public 32 million records containing confidential information about the site’s users, including where they're from.
Then, we gathered the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) to calculate the divorce rate per 1,000 people (data was only available for 45 states). We also included data on the prevalence of binge drinking among adult Americans from the CDC’s surveillance of excessive alcohol use, seeing as alcohol is well-known for its ability to lower people’s inhibitions, making some individuals emboldened to cheat.
Lastly, we added state-wide data that estimates how narcissistic residents might be in all 50 states. This data on "collective narcissism" was published in a recent study in the journal Psychological Science. Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-importance and grandiosity, and researchers have reported that narcissism has a strong association with adultery.
We then gave each one of the metrics a weighted value and ran them through our exclusive algorithm to find out how each state scored on our Adultery Index, where 0 is the least adulterous and 100 is the most. The top 10 span the Pacific Northwest, New England, the Sun Belt, and some southern states, too. Read on to discover the most adulterous state in America (with a score of 99.77) and find out where your state ranks along the way. And for the place with the most affection for a particular herbal remedy, This Is the Most Stoned State in America.
Read the original article on Best Life.
50 | New Mexico
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.7
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: N/A
Adult residents who binge drink: 13.6 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 4 percent
Adultery Index Score: 0.14
49 | Indiana
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.6
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: N/A
Adult residents who binge drink: 16.6 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 5 percent
Adultery Index Score: 10.17
48 | California
iStockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.4
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: N/A
Adult residents who binge drink: 16.7 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 5 percent
Adultery Index Score: 16.75
And to learn where you'll find the most untrustworthy people, This Is the Most Dishonest State in America.
47 | Minnesota
iStockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.3
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: N/A
Adult residents who binge drink: 20.5 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 4 percent
Adultery Index Score: 26.67
46 | Hawaii
iStockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.7
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: N/A
Adult residents who binge drink: 19.8 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 10 percent
Adultery Index Score: 28.60
45 | West Virginia
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 1.9
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.3
Adult residents who binge drink: 11.8 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 6 percent
Adultery Index Score: 50.63
44 | Tennessee
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.3
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.5
Adult residents who binge drink: 10.9 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 5 percent
Adultery Index Score: 53.03
43 | Louisiana
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.6
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 1.7
Adult residents who binge drink: 18 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 11 percent
Adultery Index Score: 54.35
42 | Maryland
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.9
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.4
Adult residents who binge drink: 14.7 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 4 percent
Adultery Index Score: 56.30
41 | Iowa
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.4
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.2
Adult residents who binge drink: 21.3 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 1 percent
Adultery Index Score: 57.65
40 | Texas
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.3
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.6
Adult residents who binge drink: 16.1 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 3 percent
Adultery Index Score: 58.24
And for where you'll find the people who are most active between the sheets, This Is the Most Promiscuous State in America.
39 | Alabama
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.4
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.7
Adult residents who binge drink: 12.2 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 3 percent
Adultery Index Score: 58.65
38 | South Carolina
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.5
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.5
Adult residents who binge drink: 16.3 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 9 percent
Adultery Index Score: 59.67
37 | Arizona
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.2
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.0
Adult residents who binge drink: 15 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 2 percent
Adultery Index Score: 59.71
36 | Illinois
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.5
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 1.5
Adult residents who binge drink: 20.8 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 7 percent
Adultery Index Score: 60.83
35 | North Carolina
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.8
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.1
Adult residents who binge drink: 14.6 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 6 percent
Adultery Index Score: 63.02
34 | South Dakota
iStockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.5
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.6
Adult residents who binge drink: 17.9 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 7 percent
Adultery Index Score: 63.66
33 | Kentucky
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.3
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.5
Adult residents who binge drink: 16.1 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 1 percent
Adultery Index Score: 63.78
32 | Utah
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.5
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.8
Adult residents who binge drink: 11.4 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 3 percent
Adultery Index Score: 66.50
31 | Kansas
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.3
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.3
Adult residents who binge drink: 16.5 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 12 percent
Adultery Index Score: 67.38
30 | Washington
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.4
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.3
Adult residents who binge drink: 16.6 percent
Collective narcissism rate: -1 percent
Adultery Index Score: 67.41
29 | Missouri
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.9
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.0
Adult residents who binge drink: 17.7 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 4 percent
Adultery Index Score: 68.97
28 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.7
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.8
Adult residents who binge drink: 13.6 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 6 percent
Adultery Index Score: 71.73
27 | Georgia
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.2
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.5
Adult residents who binge drink: 15.8 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 15 percent
Adultery Index Score: 72.41
26 | Arkansas
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 1.9
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 4.1
Adult residents who binge drink: 15.2 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 4 percent
Adultery Index Score: 73.08
25 | Oregon
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.6
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.4
Adult residents who binge drink: 17.7 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 4 percent
Adultery Index Score: 73.87
24 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.5
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.6
Adult residents who binge drink: 18.5 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 8 percent
Adultery Index Score: 74.88
23 | Maine
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.4
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.2
Adult residents who binge drink: 20.2 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 3 percent
Adultery Index Score: 75.22
22 | Michigan
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.0
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.8
Adult residents who binge drink: 19.8 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 7 percent
Adultery Index Score: 77.28
21 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.5
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.9
Adult residents who binge drink: 17 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 10 percent
Adultery Index Score: 78.47
20 | Ohio
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.1
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.9
Adult residents who binge drink: 19.5 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 7 percent
Adultery Index Score: 78.92
19 | Vermont
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.1
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.1
Adult residents who binge drink: 19 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 6 percent
Adultery Index Score: 79.47
18 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.7
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.5
Adult residents who binge drink: 24.4 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 4 percent
Adultery Index Score: 79.80
17 | Idaho
iStockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.3
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.8
Adult residents who binge drink: 14.8 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 11 percent
Adultery Index Score: 79.83
16 | Massachusetts
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 4.5
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.1
Adult residents who binge drink: 18.7 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 12 percent
Adultery Index Score: 80.19
15 | New York
iStockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 4.1
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.8
Adult residents who binge drink: 17.6 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 8 percent
Adultery Index Score: 80.32
And for state rankings, news, and more delivered to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
14 | Nebraska
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.1
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.9
Adult residents who binge drink: 20.4 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 6 percent
Adultery Index Score: 80.32
13 | Colorado
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 4.3
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.3
Adult residents who binge drink: 18.1 percent
Level of collective narcissism: 1 percent
Adultery Index Score: 82.21
12 | Montana
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 2.6
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.0
Adult residents who binge drink: 21.3 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 7 percent
Adultery Index Score: 82.59
11 | Florida
iStockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.0
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.6
Adult residents who binge drink: 17.2 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 7 percent
Adultery Index Score: 83.46
And for the place with the worst manners, This Is the Rudest State in America.
10 | Connecticut
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 4.9
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.9
Adult residents who binge drink: 18.3 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 4 percent
Adultery Index Score: 84.72
9 | Delaware
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.9
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.8
Adult residents who binge drink: 15.8 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 18 percent
Adultery Index Score: 87.76
8 | Nevada
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.1
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 4.4
Adult residents who binge drink: 14.5 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 6 percent
Adultery Index Score: 88.62
7 | New Jersey
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 5.2
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.7
Adult residents who binge drink: 17 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 11 percent
Adultery Index Score: 89.62
6 | Alaska
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.1
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.7
Adult residents who binge drink: 20 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 5 percent
Adultery Index Score: 92.07
5 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 5.0
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.1
Adult residents who binge drink: 17.8 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 8 percent
Adultery Index Score: 93.44
4 | North Dakota
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.2
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.6
Adult residents who binge drink: 24.9 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 9 percent
Adultery Index Score: 94.52
3 | Virginia
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 4.2
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.1
Adult residents who binge drink: 17 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 18 percent
Adultery Index Score: 99.39
2 | Mississippi
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 10.2
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 2.7
Adult residents who binge drink: 12.5 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 1 percent
Adultery Index Score: 99.53
1 | Wyoming
ShutterstockAshley Madison users per 1,000 people: 3.8
Divorce rate per 1,000 people: 3.8
Adult residents who binge drink: 16.9 percent
Collective narcissism rate: 12 percent
Adultery Index Score: 99.77
And for where you'll find people most likely to enjoy a drink or two, This Is the Drunkest State in America.
