Couples therapist calls Arendalsuka infidelity week

Couples therapist and author Maria Mork believes Arendalsuka can create conditions where infidelity is more likely, NRK reports. She points to alcohol, new people and social work gatherings as factors that can cause boundaries to slip.

Mork has worked with couples for 16 years and recently described Arendalsuka as “the great infidelity week” in an opinion article. She stressed that she has not researched the issue and bases her assessment on experiences from her work as a couples therapist.

“You meet new people. There may also be alcohol involved. For some people, that is the recipe for things to slide a little,” Mork said.

The phrase “What happens in Arendal stays in Arendal” is heard during the event. It is based on the saying “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”, which is used to portray the city as a place for unrestricted partying and adult activities without social consequences at home.

Mork said she was not trying to condemn people, but wanted them to be more conscious of their choices. She also urged colleagues and friends to support one another and intervene when someone has had too much to drink or is doing something they would not normally do.

“Be someone the others can trust,” she said, adding that confronting a colleague in a situation where infidelity may occur can be uncomfortable.

“Is it not about being a good friend and a good colleague? Most people regret it terribly afterwards,” Mork said.

Janne Magnussen and Ida Marie Wold, whom NRK met at Arendalsuka, said they were not very familiar with the issue Mork described. Magnussen said she understood that it could happen and also believed alcohol could play an important role.

“It is like a huge school camp for adults, with a lot of alcohol,” she said.

Mork warned that infidelity can have consequences lasting for years. Even when a relationship does not end, a breach of trust can affect children and the wider family.

“The pleasure may last for a brief moment, but the family pays the bill for years,” Mork said.

She advised couples to talk before attending social events such as Arendalsuka about trust, security and the boundaries they want to have. She also encouraged people to consider who they want to be in such situations before they act.

“Talk to your partner before you leave home. It is about agreeing that we want trust and security,” Mork said.