You are attending a psychology conference and look in at a session in progress. The speaker uses the term anaclitic depression, which puzzles you because it is not familiar. You ask the speaker for an explanation. What are you told?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Anaclitic depression is a term used to describe the lack of social responsiveness that can occur when an infant does not have a consistent attachment figure. It was first described by psychoanalyst Rene Spitz in the 1940s. The term "anaclitic" refers to a form of depression characterized by a loss of energy and interest in response to separation from a loved one, which is similar to the experience of infants who are separated from their primary caregivers.

You Are Attending a Psychology Conference and Look in at a Session