ambivalens

Ambivalens, or ambivalence, is the coexistence of mixed or opposing feelings, attitudes, or evaluations toward the same object, person, or situation. It often involves simultaneous positive and negative judgments that can affect how a person thinks and behaves. Etymologically, the term combines Latin elements meaning “both” and “to be strong,” and in psychiatry it was popularized in the early 20th century by Eugen Bleuler.

In psychology, ambivalens refers to the presence of concurrent approach and avoidance tendencies. The phenomenon can arise from internal conflicts between goals, risks and rewards, or conflicting information about the object in question. The concept is closely linked to approach–avoidance conflict and to cognitive dissonance, and it can be either a stable trait or a temporary state influenced by context and mood. Ambivalence is not synonymous with indecision; it describes coexisting evaluations that may hinder decisive action but can also prompt more careful consideration.

Researchers assess ambivalens with self-report measures that separate positive and negative evaluations, sometimes distinguishing cognitive (thought-based) and affective (feeling-based) components. Ambivalence appears across domains, including relationships, health behaviors, consumer choices, and political attitudes. In clinical settings, ambivalence is particularly salient in motivational contexts, such as readiness to change in addiction treatment or psychotherapy, where resolving mixed feelings is a common therapeutic target. Techniques like Motivational Interviewing aim to help individuals articulate ambivalence and weigh pros and cons to facilitate change.

Overall, ambivalens is a descriptive term for the complex, often contradictory, evaluative state that can either hinder or promote nuanced decision-making, depending on how it is managed and contextualized.