Ambivalence
noun
The state of having mixed feelings or opposite ideas about something or someone.
Her ambivalence about taking the new job was evident when she discussed the pros and cons.
Often appears as...
- feel ambivalence
- express ambivalence
noun
Psychology term for the coexistence of conflicting feelings or attitudes towards a person, an object or a situation.
Her ambivalence towards her parents is rooted in her complicated upbringing.
Often appears as...
- experience ambivalence
- reveal ambivalence
Usage tips
Academic
Technical
noun
The state of having mixed feelings or opposite ideas about something or someone.
Her ambivalence about taking the new job was evident when she discussed the pros and cons.
Often appears as...
- feel ambivalence
- express ambivalence
noun
Psychology term for the coexistence of conflicting feelings or attitudes towards a person, an object or a situation.
Her ambivalence towards her parents is rooted in her complicated upbringing.
Often appears as...
- experience ambivalence
- reveal ambivalence
Usage tips
Academic
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Everyday Feelings
Ambivalence is common in daily life when making decisions or judging situations.
I'm feeling ambivalence about whether to cook at home or eat out.
Pro Tip 2/3No Right Answer
In scenarios with no clear correct choice, ambivalence typically arises.
Choosing between two good colleges, she experienced ambivalence.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive or Negative?
Ambivalence does not imply a negative attitude; the mixed feelings can be both positive and negative.
His ambivalence about the promotion included excitement and fear.
Pro Tip 1/3Everyday Feelings
Ambivalence is common in daily life when making decisions or judging situations.
I'm feeling ambivalence about whether to cook at home or eat out.
Pro Tip 2/3No Right Answer
In scenarios with no clear correct choice, ambivalence typically arises.
Choosing between two good colleges, she experienced ambivalence.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive or Negative?
Ambivalence does not imply a negative attitude; the mixed feelings can be both positive and negative.
His ambivalence about the promotion included excitement and fear.
Pro Tip 1/3Everyday Feelings
Ambivalence is common in daily life when making decisions or judging situations.
I'm feeling ambivalence about whether to cook at home or eat out.
Pro Tip 2/3No Right Answer
In scenarios with no clear correct choice, ambivalence typically arises.
Choosing between two good colleges, she experienced ambivalence.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive or Negative?
Ambivalence does not imply a negative attitude; the mixed feelings can be both positive and negative.
His ambivalence about the promotion included excitement and fear.
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Video examples
Why being invisible can...
behind the scenes and thrives there and I found despite a really wide range of fields and industries that all these people work in that they share certain traits the most important of which is that they have a real ambivalence toward recognition they simply don't seek
Video examples
"He Saved My Life"...
understand the refugee system is broken you know the US wants to help refugees but also does not want too many of them to come here and I think every country is the same and having that ambivalence I think that that our system addresses
Video examples
How we can help the...
my ambivalence about my education led to pretty average grades. Luckily for me, my mother understood something important, and that was that my location was not my destination.
Video examples
Why being invisible can...
behind the scenes and thrives there and I found despite a really wide range of fields and industries that all these people work in that they share certain traits the most important of which is that they have a real ambivalence toward recognition they simply don't seek
Video examples
"He Saved My Life"...
understand the refugee system is broken you know the US wants to help refugees but also does not want too many of them to come here and I think every country is the same and having that ambivalence I think that that our system addresses
Video examples
How we can help the...
my ambivalence about my education led to pretty average grades. Luckily for me, my mother understood something important, and that was that my location was not my destination.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Gretchen Rubin
American Author
Often, if there's something that I want to do, but somehow can't get myself to do, it's because I don't have clarity. This lack of clarity often arises from a feeling of ambivalence - I want to do something, but I don't want to do it; or I want one thing, but I also want something else that conflicts with it.
Quote examples
Martha Beck
American Author
Life is full of tough decisions, and nothing makes them easy. But the worst ones are really your personal koans, and tormenting ambivalence is just the sense of satori rising. Try, trust, try, and trust again, and eventually you'll feel your mind change its focus to a new level of understanding.
Quote examples
Valeria Golino
Italian Actress
I worked with fantastic actors, fantastic directors. People I would never otherwise have met. Was I limited? Yes. Did I use it as I could have? No. But I was always ambivalent about Hollywood and what I wanted. And ambivalence in our business is no good for success.
Quote examples
Paul de Man
Belgian Critic
The ambivalence of writing is such that it can be considered both an act and an interpretive process that follows after an act with which it cannot coincide. As such, it both affirms and denies its own nature.
Quote examples
Joyce Carol Oates
American Novelist
Among many of my friends and acquaintances, I seem to be one of the very few individuals who felt or feels no ambivalence about my mother. All my feelings for my mother were positive, very strong and abiding.
Quote examples
John Ortberg
American Clergyman
Prudence is not hesitation, procrastination, or moderation. It is not driving in the middle of the road. It is not the way of ambivalence, indecision, or safety.
Quote examples
John Scott
It seems we are capable of immense love and loyalty, and as capable of deceit and atrocity. It's probably this shocking ambivalence that makes us unique.
Quote examples
Penelope Lively
English Author
I've always been fascinated by the operation of memory - the way in which it is not linear but fragmented, and its ambivalence.
Quote examples
Rosabeth Moss Kanter
American Businesswoman
Ambivalence about family responsibilities has a long history in the corporate world.
Quote examples
Jane Pauley
American Journalist
I've always had a lot of ambivalence about fame and celebrity.
Quote examples
Gretchen Rubin
American Author
Often, if there's something that I want to do, but somehow can't get myself to do, it's because I don't have clarity. This lack of clarity often arises from a feeling of ambivalence - I want to do something, but I don't want to do it; or I want one thing, but I also want something else that conflicts with it.
Quote examples
Martha Beck
American Author
Life is full of tough decisions, and nothing makes them easy. But the worst ones are really your personal koans, and tormenting ambivalence is just the sense of satori rising. Try, trust, try, and trust again, and eventually you'll feel your mind change its focus to a new level of understanding.
Quote examples
Valeria Golino
Italian Actress
I worked with fantastic actors, fantastic directors. People I would never otherwise have met. Was I limited? Yes. Did I use it as I could have? No. But I was always ambivalent about Hollywood and what I wanted. And ambivalence in our business is no good for success.
Quote examples
Paul de Man
Belgian Critic
The ambivalence of writing is such that it can be considered both an act and an interpretive process that follows after an act with which it cannot coincide. As such, it both affirms and denies its own nature.
Quote examples
Joyce Carol Oates
American Novelist
Among many of my friends and acquaintances, I seem to be one of the very few individuals who felt or feels no ambivalence about my mother. All my feelings for my mother were positive, very strong and abiding.
Quote examples
John Ortberg
American Clergyman
Prudence is not hesitation, procrastination, or moderation. It is not driving in the middle of the road. It is not the way of ambivalence, indecision, or safety.
Quote examples
John Scott
It seems we are capable of immense love and loyalty, and as capable of deceit and atrocity. It's probably this shocking ambivalence that makes us unique.
Quote examples
Penelope Lively
English Author
I've always been fascinated by the operation of memory - the way in which it is not linear but fragmented, and its ambivalence.
Quote examples
Rosabeth Moss Kanter
American Businesswoman
Ambivalence about family responsibilities has a long history in the corporate world.
Quote examples
Jane Pauley
American Journalist
I've always had a lot of ambivalence about fame and celebrity.
Example 1 of 10
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