Here’s the science behind mixed emotions

Mainstream methods for measuring feelings still treat positive and negative as opposite sides of a spectrum. But study participants commonly report mixed emotions.

Countless parents across the country recently dropped their kids off at college for the first time. This transition can stir a whirlwind of feelings: the heartache of parting, sadness over a permanently changed family dynamic, the uncertainty of what lies ahead—but also the pride of seeing your child move toward independence. Some might describe the goodbye as bittersweet, or say that they’re feeling mixed emotions.