Psychology defines ambivalence (or detached personality) as a state of having simultaneous contradictory reactions, beliefs, or feelings towards some a person, object, or state of facts.

Similarly, What is an ambivalent relationship?

What Is Ambivalence? Ambivalence occurs in intimate relationships when there is a coexistence of opposing emotions and desires towards the other person that creates an uncertainty about being in the relationship.

Additionally, What does it mean to feel ambivalent? In ambivalent it refers to having mixed, contradictory, or more than one feeling about something. … If you are ambivalent about something, you feel two ways about it. ‘Ambiguous’, on the other hand, means “unclear or capable of being understood in two or more different ways.”

What is an example of ambivalence?

It is wanting to do two different things or feeling two opposing ways. For example, you may feel ambivalent about going out on Friday night. Although on one hand it would be fun to hang out with your friends, on the other hand it would be nice to save money by staying in and resting.

What is ambivalence a symptom of?

Ambivalence as a construct was described by Bleuler as one of the four primary symptoms of schizophrenia and was defined as “positive and negative [emotions] at one and the same time” (Bleuler, 1950, p.

How do you deal with ambivalent relationships?

  1. Be aware if anxiety is taking you away from yourself, and return to a healthy sense of who you are.
  2. Be willing to take the long view. …
  3. Dont play the role of therapist with your partner.
  4. Dont pressure your partner or try to solve their dilemma for them.
  5. Avoid numbing or self-defeating behaviors.

What does ambivalence feel like?

Ambivalence is a state of having simultaneous conflicting reactions, beliefs, or feelings towards some object. Stated another way, ambivalence is the experience of having an attitude towards someone or something that contains both positively and negatively valenced components.

Is it bad to be ambivalent?

Whether we’re aware of it or not, most of us view ambivalence as a mindset to be avoided. Decades of research have shown that holding both negative and positive attitudes about something makes us uncomfortable and anxious. More often than not, ambivalence is regarded as a weakness that causes unnecessary conflict.

What is emotional ambivalence?

Emotional ambivalence is the simultaneous experience of positive and negative emotions about something. It’s what we think of as being “torn.”

How do you describe ambivalence?

1 : simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (such as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action felt ambivalence toward his powerful father ambivalence toward marriage. 2a : continual fluctuation (as between one thing and its opposite)

What is ambivalence in motivational interviewing?

Ambivalence represents a client’s experience of simultaneously feeling two ways about changing one’s behavior; for example, concurrently wanting to make a change while also feeling reticent to do so.

How do you use ambivalence?


Ambivalence in a Sentence

  1. Even though the new job meant more money, Tad felt a great deal of ambivalence about accepting the position.
  2. Although Janice loved Henry, her ambivalence towards marriage made her turn down his proposal.

Is ambivalence a mental illness?

Defined in 1910 by Eugen Bleuler as the fundamental symptom of disorders in the spectrum of schizophrenia, ambivalence is the tendency of the schizophrenic mind to make—in a non-dialectic and unsurpassable manner for the subject—two affective attitudes or two opposite ideas coexist at the same time and with the same …

What does psychological ambivalence mean?

Ambivalence refers to a psychological conflict between opposing evaluations, often experienced as being torn between alternatives. This dynamic aspect of ambivalence is hard to capture with outcome-focused measures, such as response times or self-report.

What is ambivalence in psychiatry?

In psychology, ambivalence is defined as the mental disharmony or disconnect a person may feel when having both positive and negative feelings regarding the same individual.

Can an ambivalent man change?

In summary, the Ambivalent is a complicated person. When treated by an experienced individual who specializes in Attachment Disorder, one can change. It takes time, willingness to dive deep into the pain body wound and patience for a new level of relational tolerance to take place.

How long does ambivalence last?

The process of being ambivalent as to whether to leave or stay in a marriage is not necessarily orderly or linear, and there is no set timetable for how long it will last. In fact, ambivalence towards marriage can last indefinitely.

When a man is ambivalent?

For the ambivalent man, the inability to commit in an emotionally valid way may, paradoxically, reflect an emotionally vulnerable self that he is afraid to recognize out of fear that it will overwhelm him or make him less of a man.

How can ambivalence ruin your life?

We’re indecisive and ambiguous and in turn face the wrath of ambivalence which tugs on the seams that keep our relationships and lives together. Moving forward, just realize it’s completely normal to be hesitant about making simple, as well as life-changing decisions.

What is it called when you feel all emotions at once?

Emotional overload often comes from having conflicting feelings, too many feelings happening at once, or not being able to act based on your gut feelings.

Why is ambivalence good?

Complex Thinking:

Holding ambivalence illuminates the grey area. Black and white, good and bad thinking is limiting and rigid, and often forecloses on new possibilities. Holding ambivalence facilitates creativity, dynamic problem solving, and abstract thinking.

Why do I feel ambivalent about everything?

So where does ambivalence come from? Many psychologists and social scientists report that certain personality traits tend to be associated with the ambivalent stance, such as obsessive compulsive tendencies, unhealthy psychological defensive styles (such as splitting), and underdeveloped problem solving skills.

How do you treat emotional ambivalence?


Here are four tips to help you cope with ambivalence:

  1. Write down your ambivalent feelings and the circumstances in which they occur.
  2. Remind yourself that no person or situation is perfect and that all people and circumstances have both positive and negative aspects.
  3. Recognize and accept your ambivalent feelings.

What is ambivalence in psychology?

Ambivalence refers to a psychological conflict between opposing evaluations, often experienced as being torn between alternatives. This dynamic aspect of ambivalence is hard to capture with outcome-focused measures, such as response times or self-report.