Psychological ambivalence
Psychological ambivalence is the existence of simultaneous or rapidly interchangeable positive and negative feelings toward the same object or activity, with the added proviso that both the positive and negative feelings be strong” (Meehl, 1964). It is defined as an “inability to make a stable choice between two alternatives despite familiarity with their consequences” (Ainslie, 1992). Only when psychological ambivalence is experienced does the ambivalent attitude holder become aware of their conflicting thoughts or feelings (see also de Liver, van der Pligt, & Wigboldus, 2007). The ambivalence concept was introduced into social psychology by Scott (1966,1968,1969), followed by other important contributions by Kaplan (1972), and Katz and Hass (1988).
Newby-Clark et al. also suggested that ambivalence is unpleasant for similar reasons as dissonance. An important difference between ambivalence and dissonance is however that the former is largely a pre-decisional phenomenon, while dissonance generally concerns post-decisional conflict between attitudes and behavior. This may explain the conflicting findings of ambivalence on discomfort. Ambivalent attitude holders often ‘sit on the fence’; they have not committed themselves by making a choice between their opposing behavioral beliefs. When people are ambivalent and a choice needs to be made, conflict and feelings of discomfort will arise.
Ambivalence noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes. (n.d.). Oxford Learner’s Dictionary. Retrieved from: https://surl.li/imldmk
Rutjens, B. T., Nordgren, L. F… (2008). Ambivalence and decisional conflict as a cause of psychological discomfort: feeling tense before jumping off the fence. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2008.
Mark Conner & Paul Sparks. (2002). Ambivalence and Attitudes. European Review of Social Psychology. Retrieved from: https://surl.li/eqeiey