Science says ambivalence may be a desirable trait (then again…)

Ambivalence — defined as a state of indecision — usually won’t win you points with colleagues. How could that be useful, right? A new study suggests that, lo and behold, ambivalence is not a bug in someone’s character; it’s a feature.

In new data published by the British Journal of Social Psychology, researchers from the University of Cologne describe how ambivalence prevents biases and encourages sound judgment. Instead of merely fostering procrastination, ambivalence may bring in a more diverse array of opinions.

Who do you blame?

People who are ambivalent simultaneously appreciate the pros and cons of a situation — and of people. The authors used a hypothetical of a man slipping on a banana peel to test this. Some witnesses are quick to draw negative conclusions about the banana-challenged guy. Ambivalent people, on the other hand, review extenuating circumstances and realize that you are not necessarily a klutz if you slip.

This logic concerns internal and external attributions. Internal attributions look at personal characteristics as the root cause of a situation—I fell because I’m clumsy. External attributions point to environmental reasons—I fell because banana peels are slippery.

 “Ambivalence leads to broader processing and incorporation of diverse perspectives,” the authors continued.

Respondents in this study were asked to rate how they feel about each item below on a scale of one to seven.

1. My thoughts are often contradictory
2. Many topics make me feel conflicted
3. I usually see both the positive as well as the negative side of things
4. I often experience both sides of an issue pulling on me
5. I often find that there are pros and cons to everything
6. I often feel torn between two sides of an issue
7. Most of the time, my thoughts and feelings are not necessarily in accordance with each other
8. Sometimes when I think about a topic, it almost feels like I am physically switching from side to side
9. My feelings are often simultaneously positive and negative
10. I often experience that my thoughts and feelings are in conflict when I’m thinking about a topic

More reasons why ambivalent people are assets in the workplace

Ambivalence can lead to both occupational success as well as interpersonal success. This may be because the proclivity to observe the positives and negatives of a situation and/or colleague allows people to make the most out of any given opportunity.

“Ambivalent relationships” may be a useful thing too. The phrase refers to partnerships that are as tension-inducing as they are productive. This would include frenemies. In other recent research, Julianne Holt-Lunstad from Brigham Young University and Bert Uchino from the University of Utah found that frenemies within an organization often display increased creative problem-solving capabilities as well as more informed decision-making.

Both parties are routinely forced to see things from alternative perspectives because both parties are routinely at odds with each other.

Emotional ambivalence, or adhering to contradictory feelings about a single opportunity and/or person, was also linked with higher success rates during negotiations. So the next time you’re being wishy-washy, pause for a moment and give yourself a pat on the back for having a trait that businesses actually need.