The psychological state in which a person concurrently hates and loves the same object or person.
n. 1. (in psychology) the condition of holding opposite feelings (such as love and hate) for the same person or object. This can cause relationship difficulties and pathological grief reactions. 2. (in psychiatry) the condition of making varying decisions about a treatment plan without the ability to adhere to the decision agreed.
n. a psychiatric symptom occasionally seen in *schizophrenia and *catatonia: a state of ambivalence with alternation of cooperation and opposition. For instance, a patient may not know whether or not to shake the interviewer’s hand, constantly shifting between holding the hand out and withdrawing it.... ambitendence
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