English to Spanish Art/Literary Psychology Manipulative people

Context:

Note: this expression appears in the instances below: (not sure how to put it so that it reads natural)

Their ambivalence about whether to primarily fend for themselves or lean on others puts them and those in relationships with them in a real bind.

Millon describes the passive-aggressive or “negativistic” personality as one who is actively ambivalent about whether to adopt a primarily independent or dependent style of coping

Thanks