Ambivalence: A “Sensitizing Construct” for the Study and Practice of Intergenerational Relationships

Abstract

In recent years the idea of ambivalence has found rising attention in the field of intergenerational relationships studies and practice. It allows one to consider the contradictory dynamics of conflict and solidarity. Starting from the everyday usage of the term, an elaborated definition of ambivalence is developed that includes most of the applications in research and in practice. Before this background, it is suggested to generate for future theoretical and practical work with ambivalence the notion of a “sensitizing construct.”