Abstract: The amphoteric styrene derivatives correspond to the formula ##STR1## in which X is oxygen, sulfur, a direct bond, --SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.5 --, --CON(R.sub.5 -- or --COO--, Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 independently of one another are C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylene or hydroxypropylene, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently of one another are C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl or, together with the N atom, are a pyrrolidine, piperidine, hexamethyleneimine or morpholine ring, and R.sub.1, together with R.sub.5, is also a piperazine ring, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are hydrogen, C.sub.1-4 -alkyl, chlorine, C.sub.1-4 -alkoxy or C.sub.3-4 -alkenyl or together, in the o-position relative to one another, are a trimethylene or tetramethylene group, R.sub.5 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-4 -alkyl or cyanoethyl or, together with R.sub.1, is a piperazine ring, Q is --COO or --SO.sub.3 and n is the number 1 or 2, and can be prepared by reacting the corresponding amine compounds with a halide of the formula Hal--Y.sub.