In everyday conversation, ambivalence is often used as a synonym for indecision or indifference. ... Since ambivalence is inevitable in life, a lack of ability to acknowledge and experience it leads people to use problematic psychological defense mechanisms. Ambivalence plays an important role in romantic relationships.

Is ambivalence a good thing?

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 the function of ambivalence?

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.