Ambivalence is a contradictory attitude towards an object or an ambivalent experience caused by an individual or an object. In other words, an object can provoke the simultaneous emergence of two antagonistic feelings in a person. This concept was previously introduced by E. Bleuler, who considered a person’s ambivalence to be a key sign of the presence of schizophrenia, as a result of which he identified three of its forms: intellectual, emotional and volitional.
Emotional ambivalence is revealed in the simultaneous feeling of positive and negative emotions towards another individual, object or event. Child-parent relationships can serve as an example of ambivalence.
A person’s volitional ambivalence is revealed in the endless rushing between polar decisions, in the inability to make a choice between them. Often this leads to exclusion from committing a particular decision-making act.
A person’s intellectual ambivalence lies in the alternation of antagonistic, contradictory or mutually exclusive opinions in the individual’s thoughts.
E. Bleuler's contemporary S. Freud put a completely different meaning into the term human ambivalence. He regarded it as the simultaneous coexistence of two opposing deep-seated motivations that are primarily characteristic of a person, of which the most fundamental are the focus on life and the craving for death.
What is ambivalence
Ambivalence in psychology is a dual attitude towards an object or person, feelings or experiences that contradict each other. The object evokes two completely opposite emotions.
The term “ambivalence” was first discovered by the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleier at the beginning of the 20th century. In his opinion, this condition is a sign of schizophrenia.
Unlike Bleuer, Sigmund Freud believed that ambivalence is the peaceful coexistence of opposing impulses in the human soul. These impulses arise in two spheres (life and death) and are considered the foundation of personality. The scientist pointed to the fact that a person is born with dual emotions. At the same time, the positive ones are at the conscious level, and the negative ones are hidden in the depths of the subconscious. In favorable conditions, they “pop up”, provoking a person to unpredictable and sometimes inappropriate actions.
The world famous Carl Jung expanded the concept. According to him, the conscious and unconscious coexist harmoniously in the mechanism of action of the human psyche. What then is ambivalence in simple terms? This is the existence in the consciousness and subconscious of two opposing or conflicting feelings, desires, emotions or intentions in relation to the same person, phenomenon, object.
Interesting! F. Scott Fitzgerald said that ambivalence enhances the mental abilities of every person.
There are three types of ambivalence:
- Emotional ambivalence. Most often appears in romantic relationships. An individual experiences two different feelings towards the object of adoration.
- Strong-willed. Otherwise called ambition. What does it mean? A person has two opposing goals and, accordingly, expects two results. It is difficult for him to choose between them, which is why he postpones making a decision.
- Intellectual ambivalence. The principle is the same as in the two previous cases. Only here it comes down to conflicting ideas.
There is also a fourth type - social ambivalence. An example is a person who simultaneously lives according to generally accepted laws and zealously attends church. This also includes the common term – Orthodox atheist. There is duality.
Symptoms
Ambivalent behavior is expressed in the commission of unpredictable actions that contradict each other. A person expresses polar emotions and points of view, proving both in turn. Such duality and instability forces a person to be “at a crossroads.”
There are three criteria by which the clinical picture of ambivalence is compiled. Causes and symptoms are closely related.
The group of main criteria includes emotions, thoughts and will. When a person has ambivalence in all three states, this means that he has developed duality in the form of a pathological disease.
But ambivalence is also characteristic of adolescents. It is during puberty that a person is prone to rebellion and dividing the world into “white” and “black”. During this age period, he absolutely does not accept the “gray, boring” color. This ambivalence indicates intrapersonal problems.
Ambivalence in psychology and psychiatry
Until the beginning of the 20th century, the meaning of the word ambivalence was considered only in medical practice. But after, as mentioned above, they began to study it in psychology. Psychologists believe that this condition is the norm. Therefore, there is no need to try to get rid of it. The main thing is to monitor its manifestations. However, it is worth remembering that in some cases the fragile human psyche “breaks.” As a result, neuroses and other serious problems develop. Such cases include:
- use of psychotropic drugs, alcoholic beverages, narcotic substances;
- severe stress or psychological shock;
- traumatic situations that left an indelible mark on the mind.
Causes of ambivalence in humans
An ambivalent state is a symptom of mental disorders. The reasons for their development are considered to be frequent stressful situations, conflicts, and strong experiences. As soon as the situation stabilizes, the duality disappears on its own. Sometimes ambivalence is a consequence of difficult relationships:
- Children develop ambivalence when they lack parental care or warmth. Another option is overprotection, when mom and dad allow themselves to invade the child’s personal space.
- Ambivalence between a man and a woman appears if one of them is not confident in his partner and constantly creates conflict situations. Another reason is instability in relationships.
Such situations provoke stress, depression, hysterics, and neurasthenic states. A psychotherapist, psychologist or psychiatrist can find out the exact cause of ambivalence. The choice in this case depends on the degree of its severity.
Clinical picture
Since the term in question has many definitions, when drawing up a clinical picture we will rely on the criteria used in the original (psychiatric) context. These criteria are divided into three groups: emotions, thoughts and will. In the case when the ambivalent state is considered as a pathology, the patient has all three of the above components, which are generated by each other.
Emotional ambivalence
Duality affecting the emotionally sensitive sphere has the highest prevalence. This symptom, characteristic of many neuroses and other mental disorders, often occurs in completely healthy people. A clear sign of duality in the emotionally sensitive sphere is the presence of several opposing emotions. An ambivalent attitude is the presence of feelings such as hatred and love, curiosity and fear, contempt and sympathy. In most cases, a healthy person is in a similar state of nostalgia, where sadness about the past gives rise to joy from pleasant memories.
The danger of this condition is explained by the fact that sooner or later, one of the conditions takes on a dominant role. In a situation where fear accompanies curiosity, tipping the scales in favor of the latter can lead to traumatic consequences and a threat to life. The dominance of hatred over love causes the launch of defense mechanisms, in which a person, under the influence of his own emotions, can cause harm to both others and himself.
With ambivalence, a person simultaneously experiences positive and negative feelings towards someone or something.
Polar thoughts and ideas
Polar thoughts and ideas are an integral part of neurotic disorders. Obsessive thoughts and ideas that replace each other in the human mind are a peculiar characteristic feature of mental illness
It should be noted that polar thoughts in consciousness appear solely due to the duality of emotional perception. The very range of human ideas can be unlimited in size
Duality of thinking in psychiatry is considered as a “crack” in consciousness, which is the main symptom of schizophrenia.
Volitional sphere
Volitional duality is characterized as the inability to carry out a specific action due to the presence of several stimuli. In order to better understand this condition, let's consider a situation in which a person experiences extreme thirst. In such conditions, an ordinary person will take a glass, pour water into it and quench his thirst. With volitional ambivalence, patients refuse water or freeze in one position with a glass in their hand, while not paying attention to the strong desire to drink. Most often, most people encounter this phenomenon when they simultaneously feel the desire to stay awake and go to sleep.
Experts who study volitional ambivalence say that refusal to make independent decisions is most often generated by internal conflicts. The cause of such conflicts can be irresponsible behavior or, conversely, increased responsibility, accompanied by a fear of making a mistake. The cause of internal conflict may be reduced self-esteem and increased self-criticism, fear of public attention and a tendency towards perfectionism, increased anxiety, indecisiveness and various phobias. An attempt to avoid a difficult choice is accompanied by the appearance of two polar feelings - shame for one’s own indecision and a feeling of relief. It is by the presence of these feelings that experts confirm the theory that each type of duality is closely interrelated with each other.
Ambivalent emotions, like ambivalence itself, can be both a difference in human consciousness and a symptom of a disease
That is why, during a diagnostic examination, increased attention is paid to the background manifestations of this condition.
Ambivalent behavior can be a sign of emotional instability, and sometimes the first sign of the development of mental illness
Examples of ambivalence
The ambivalent state has many facets and features. Some examples may surprise you:
- Love for parents and a strong desire to move away from them and live separately. In especially severe cases, they are even wished for death.
- Love for the child is mixed with the desire to get rid of him at least for a couple of days, sending him to his grandparents for upbringing.
- The desire to live in the same house with parents, but at the same time not to hear their moralizing and advice.
- Nostalgic memories of the past, in which there were losses of something important.
- Fear and curiosity. Strange sounds are heard in a dark empty room. The person is afraid, but still goes to see what is happening there.
- Sadomasochism. It's not just about sexual relationships. Remember the cases when a woman suffers with her alcoholic or drug addict husband, but does not dare to leave him.
Another example of ambivalence would be having to choose between two candidates. Everyone has good and bad qualities. But it is impossible to choose just one. To get the ideal option, I want to combine them into a single whole.
Balance theory
This theory was developed to study people's thoughts regarding their personal relationships with other people and with the environment. Triadic relationships are used to assess the structure and quality of relationships within an organization.
The general assumption of balance theory is rooted in the philosophy that unbalanced states tend toward chaos. Satisfying relationships require balance, otherwise it is common to experience symptoms such as stress, tension or ambivalence.
How ambivalent feelings manifest themselves
What does the concept of ambivalence of feelings mean? By definition, ambivalence is the duality of emotions, desires and ideas. This is a completely opposite attitude towards the same object. A person cannot make a choice in favor of one of the solutions. His behavior and emotional state are constantly changing. In the morning he could be calm and friendly. And in the evening he suddenly became hysterical, aggressive, provoking quarrels. Or another example, a “sick person” is usually a cautious, cowardly person. In an ambivalent state, he becomes reckless. Then he turns back into himself.
Individual differences
Individual characteristics are necessary to decide the most beneficial strategies for coping with ambivalent states. Research has shown that certain personality traits can influence people who experience ambivalence. There are certain personality traits that make a person less likely to be ambivalent. Various factors can change these traits, thus contributing to the emergence of ambivalence, for example, a person's innate (or acquired) tolerance for any ambiguity. In particular, those who have a need for cognition or a tendency to evaluate discrepancies between positive and negative emotions are less likely to experience feelings of ambivalence. In other words, the desire to solve problems that require significant cognitive resources contributes to cognitive strength and, therefore, the ability to overcome ambivalence.
Ambivalence in relationships
Ambivalence in relationships is common. Just remember the common phrase that from hatred to love there is one step. “I love and I hate” – you’ve probably heard (more than once) these words. For clarity, here are some examples:
- The wife loves her husband. But he experiences a lot of negative emotions due to strong jealousy.
- A woman adores her son or daughter. But out of fatigue, she sometimes wants to pour out all her irritation, anger, and resentment on them.
- The child loves his parents and tries to spend as much time with them as possible. But at the same moment he dreams that they would not interfere in his life.
- The girl loves her chosen one. But she is irritated by some of his qualities. And close friends provoke us to reconsider relationships.
If ambivalence of emotions in a relationship appears for a short period of time, there is no need to worry. Short-term emotions will not cause harm. Otherwise, serious mental disorders can be judged.
Characteristics
Ambivalence in psychology is a state that a person is able to determine independently. Often such individuals admit that it is difficult for them to make a choice or even decide how they relate to the world around them.
Such people are characterized by the following behavior:
- Constantly changing plans. For example, a person buys a ticket and plans to go with friends to Europe, but a few hours before departure he buys a ticket to Australia. That is, he commits a completely irrational act.
- Indecisiveness. An ambivalent person can constantly reflect on one situation, but constantly change his attitude towards it. For example, today he loves his house, and the next day he wants to move into an apartment.
- Uncertainty in love. The partners of such people are constantly tormented by the fact that they are either loved or not loved.
- No easy answers. People of this type question everything and constantly say opposite things; more often than not they cannot confirm what they say with reasonable facts. Because of this, others have to prove obvious things to them. The most difficult thing is that the point of view of an ambivalent person can change every day, hour or even a few minutes in advanced situations.
Ambivalence is a kind of conflict within the personality itself. These can be complex or very simple solutions. For example, ambivalence manifests itself even when choosing food during lunch.
A person understands that it is better to eat healthy food, but he also wants to treat himself to fast food. On the one hand, you can choose vegetables and fruits, which will be the best choice, but the person will not feel satisfied.
Diagnosis and treatment of ambivalence
There is no need to try to self-diagnose ambivalence. This should be done by a specialist: a psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of ambivalence involves conducting a number of tests:
- Kaplan test for bipolar disorder;
- Priester test, which detects the presence of conflicts;
- conflictology test by Richard Petty.
But usually the presence of ambivalence is determined by the answers to the following questions:
- Do I open my soul to others?
- Are you ready to discuss problems with outsiders?
- Do I feel discomfort when having frank conversations with my interlocutor?
- Am I afraid that they will stop communicating with me?
- Do I feel anxious if others are not interested in me?
- Does dependence on others bring negative emotions?
You need to answer with a rating from 1 to 5. 1 – completely disagree, 5 – completely agree.
Treatment
Therapy must be comprehensive. First you need to identify the cause of ambivalence. It was said above that it is not a separate disease. This is usually a symptom of mental disorders. It remains to identify which ones. To stabilize the individual, the doctor prescribes several groups of medications:
- mood stabilizers - help in the fight against sudden mood changes;
- antidepressants – treat disorders in the brain that provoke the development of depressive conditions;
- tranquilizers - help get rid of anxiety, panic attacks, sleep problems, calm, relax;
- neuroleptics - improve concentration, which decreases in an ambivalent state;
- nootropics – normalize blood circulation in the brain, improve its activity in mental disorders;
- sleeping pills – improve sleep;
- sedatives – eliminate nervous tension, help cope with panic attacks and neuroses;
- B vitamins – normalize the functioning of the nervous system and effectively fight depression.
The dosage of drugs and the duration of treatment are determined by the doctor. In the case of ambivalence, self-medication is also dangerous. At the same time as taking medication, it would be good to make an appointment with a psychologist. It will help you find your weaknesses, understand your feelings, and find the reason for the development of ambivalence. These could be personal conversations, group classes, special trainings on personal growth.
If the methods described above do not help, it means that the ambivalent state has developed into a pathological one. You'll need a psychiatrist here. Otherwise, there will be serious problems in communication, an unexpected negative reaction to people and what is happening around.
Psychotherapeutic method
There are various causes and symptoms of ambivalence. Diagnostics helps to identify them, and treatment directly depends on these components. An individual consultation with a psychologist will help you understand your internal state. During it, a person, with the help of a specialist, finds out the triggers (“hooks” that trigger ambivalent thoughts).
A psychotherapist or psychologist can help identify weaknesses. For example, change the level of self-esteem (most often, raise it), stop being afraid to take responsibility and deal with your feelings. Group classes and personal growth trainings help effectively.
Often women say: “I want to leave him, but I’m afraid that I won’t raise children myself.” In this case, it is better to rephrase your feelings: “I will do this and that, I’m afraid of this and that.” The question of desire then automatically disappears. It is clear what a person wants and what he is afraid of. For example, he wants to jump with a parachute, but he is afraid of heights, not the jump. Then you need to work with fear, not desire.
Ambivalence indicates a weak problem area that needs attention.
