ambiguity tolerance

n. The capacity to acknowledge or tolerate holding contradictory beliefs or uncertainty about perceptions, situations, or beliefs. A cognitive style or personality trait characteristic of people who are able to regulate their emotions and accurately perceive reality in the face of the inherent uncertainty of life. Individuals with low tolerance for ambiguity tend to be rigid; to distort reality by failing to perceive change in the environment; to oversimplify in thought; to long for clear-cut and simple answers in the face of complexity; to become angry with persons of different cultures, customs, and beliefs; and to cling tightly to politically conservative ideas.