por The stages of human development They are a series of phases through which people pass in our evolution from the moment of birth to old age and death. Learning to navigate correctly through each of these stages is essential to be able to lead a good life and overcome the challenges that are presented to us.
The study of the stages of human development has been present practically since the beginning of psychology as a science. Some of the most famous authors in this field, such as Jean Piaget or Erik Erikson, created their own theories about the phases we have to go through throughout our existence.
Some of the theories of the stages of human development defend that the phases are not arbitrary, but are marked by a series of challenges that we must overcome and are accompanied by certain strengths and weaknesses. One of the most famous theories of this type is that of Dr. Thomas Armstrong.
In his theory, Dr. Armstrong divided the stages of human development into 12 different phases, which go from before birth to death. In this article we will look at each of these stages in detail.
What are the stages of human development?
Dr. Armstrong’s theory of human development stands out for his idea that each moment of our lives is marked by an ability or «gift» that we can exploit to improve the existence of others and the world in general. This author divides development into 12 well-differentiated phases, which go from the moment of conception until death.
1- Prenatal stage
The prenatal stage extends from the moment of conception until the actual birth of the person. Despite the fact that he has not yet come into the world, in this phase the child already begins to influence his environment, mainly through the expectations that those around him have of him.
The main contribution that a child can provide in this phase is that of illusion and potential. Because it has not yet been born, the parents and those close to them wonder what this new life could become, and therefore the child becomes a symbol of growth and the possibilities that exist in each individual.
2- Birth
The birth of a new life is one of the most important events for many people, especially for the direct relatives of the child.
In this phase, the main contribution that the newborn can make to the environment is hope, since the people close to them are filled with optimism and the feeling that this new life can bring something special to the world.
The newborn thus indirectly becomes a representation of the feeling of hope that we all carry within, and generally inspires his relatives and those in contact with him to try to make the world a better place.
3- Early childhood
The first proper stage of a person’s life is early childhood, which extends from the moment of birth to approximately 3 years of age. At this time, the main characteristic of the child according to Armstrong is his vitality, which seems practically unlimited and greatly affects his environment.
From birth to 3 years, children represent all the potential and energy of humanity, and with their simple presence they encourage the activity of the adults around them. During this time, the child does not stop learning and exploring his environment, and is capable of arousing curiosity and joy in his elders.
4- Early childhood
Early childhood is the stage that develops between 3 and 6 years of a child’s life. During this time they continue to have all the energy of the previous phase, but they are also capable of bringing joy and a desire to interact with the world that are very characteristic of this vital moment.
When children at this stage play, they are able to represent the world in its entirety and transform it at will, creating all kinds of new scenarios. Therefore, their main contribution is innovation and the joy with which they interact with their environment, which spreads to the people around them.
5- Middle childhood
Middle childhood is the stage that extends approximately between 6 and 8 years of age. At this moment a unique phenomenon of great importance for the development of the person occurs: the appearance of true subjectivity and the separation between the «I» and the rest of the world.
From this idea of the «I», the child can begin to use the imagination, which thus becomes the main contribution made to the world from this phase.
The inner life begins to be cultivated from this moment, and if it is developed properly it can end up giving rise to all kinds of discoveries and innovations in the later stages.
6- Late childhood
Late childhood is the stage of human development that occurs between 9 and 11 years of age. At this time the child has already acquired a large number of social and technical skills that allow him to function correctly in the world. However, he continues to have to face many situations that he has not yet mastered and for which he does not have a determined answer.
As a consequence, at this stage children mainly develop ingenuity. In order to solve the problems they face, they have to be able to apply their creativity in a practical way, and use the tools they already have to solve the new situations they are facing.
This principle of ingenuity is fundamental throughout our lives, since it can be applied to solve all kinds of practical, emotional or any other kind of problems and to function correctly in our day to day.
7- Adolescence
Adolescence or puberty is one of the moments in which the most changes occur in a short space of time of all the stages of human development. At this time, children begin to leave behind their childhood and develop characteristics more typical of adulthood, with all the difficulties that this implies.
Adolescence is normally considered to extend from 12 to 20 years of age. The biological, social and emotional changes that take place at this time give rise to a great vital passion, represented for example in the sexual field or in the search for independence.
Thus, the adolescent fulfills a vital function by reminding the people around him of the importance of vital passion and the desire to live. Reconnecting with this stage of life can be very helpful for those individuals who feel they have lost their joy or who are stuck in a routine.
8- Youth
The concept of youth has varied greatly throughout history, but it has always been related to a series of characteristics that today occur approximately between 20 and 35 years of age.
Young adults begin to face all kinds of responsibilities that they did not have to worry about as children, with all that this entails.
Thus, in youth some challenges appear such as the need to find a home of their own and possibly start a family, establish a stable and fulfilling circle of friends, and the pursuit of a satisfying professional career.
Thus, the most important characteristic of youth is initiative. People at this stage have to learn to take action to improve their living conditions. This ability is very useful in the rest of the phases, but it becomes essential during the first years of adult life.
9- Middle age
The entry into middle age is another of the great changes within the stages of human development. After all the time spent in youth, adults between the ages of 35 and 50 generally begin to reflect on what they have managed to build and the meaning their own lives have.
At this time, people generally begin to wonder if the path they have been following has been the one they wanted or not. If they have followed their own wishes, they usually feel great satisfaction, and if not, they usually try to straighten their actions to make the best use of the time they have left.
Thus, during this stage the most important characteristic is contemplation, or the ability to reflect on one’s own acts in an impartial and objective manner.
10- Maturity
Maturity is the stage of life that takes place between approximately 50 and 80 years of life. In this phase, people have generally accomplished most of their important life goals, such as starting a family, having a career, or whatever else they have set for themselves.
As a consequence, individuals at this age tend to change their focus and dedicate themselves to contributing as much as they can to society. This can happen in different ways, such as by collaborating with NGOs, volunteering or donating money.
Thus, according to Armstrong, this stage of development stands out for benevolence and contribution to others.
11- Late adulthood
The penultimate of Armstrong’s developmental stages is late adulthood. This extends from approximately 80 years until death.
In it, the main contribution of the person is the wisdom that he has acquired throughout his life. In this way, he can help others with his knowledge so that they do not make mistakes and benefit from what they know.
12- Death
For Armstrong, death is also considered one of the stages of life. Those who are near death or who have passed away teach the rest of us the importance of celebrating our own existence and spending time doing what is most important to us.
References
“The 12 stages of life”in: Institute For Learning. Retrieved on: April 28, 2020 from Institute For Learning: institute4learning.com. “Human Development Stages From Infancy to Late Adulthood”in: Study. Retrieved on: April 28, 2020 from Study: study.com. “Lifespan development”in: Lumen Learning. Retrieved on: April 28, 2020 from Lumen Learning: courses.lumenlearning.com. “Stages of Human Development” in: UK Essays. Retrieved on: April 28, 2020 from UK Essays: ukessays.com. «Stages of human development» in: All Matter. Retrieved on: April 28, 2020 from Toda Materia: todamateria.com.