People go through different stages of life over the years, through which we grow and develop.through which we grow, mature and age.
We explain what each of these phases of human development consists of and what are the main characteristics of each one of them.
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What are the life stages?
Human development can be classified into different life stages that each person goes through. Each of these phases or stages is characterized by having in common a series of physical and psychological changes that determine our development. physical and psychological changes that determine our development and the way we behave. and the way we behave.
There are many different proposals for categorizing these stages and defining where each one begins and ends. The most elaborate ones have focused mainly on infant stages and infant development, as demonstrated by the theories of Sigmund Freud or Jean Piaget.
In this article, however, we will focus on the general stages that we go through from the moment we are conceived, to the moment we are born. from the moment we are conceived until old age, and the changes that characterize them.and on the changes that mainly characterize each of these stages.
The 9 stages of life we go through
The beginning or end of these life stages may vary from person to person, but we all go through these stages of life and these changes in our development.
1. Prenatal
The prenatal stage is the first phase of human development and is the one that occurs from the conception of the embryo until its birth. In this stage, the development of the fetus takes place inside the mother’s uterus, so it is also known as the intrauterine phase.It is also known as the intrauterine phase.
At this stage of life we are already beginning to develop as human beings and the brain is already capable of detecting stimuli, such as touch or sound. Within this stage, three other sub-phases can be distinguished: the germinal, embryonic and fetal periods.. In the latter, the fetus is already formed and will continue to develop for 7 months until delivery.
After nine months of development, the delivery or birth is the point that marks the end of this first stage of the life of the human being.
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2. Early childhood
The early childhood stage is the stage that occurs from the baby’s birth to approximately 3 years of age. This stage of life is characterized by the development of the most basic human learning. of the human being.
Throughout this phase the child develops basic skills such as reflexes during the neonatal period, and later other psychomotor and movement skills, such as standing up, walking or learning to drive with the hands. It is also at this stage that much of the capacity for language is developed.
3. Early childhood phase
The early childhood phase is the phase from about 3 to 6 years of age, also known as the “toddler years”. and is also known as preschool age.
This is another important stage of life for human development, as it is when the child develops a sense of self and detaches from selfishness, learning to put himself in the place of others and to attribute thoughts and ideas to them.
4. Middle childhood phase
This stage of life is the one that occurs between the ages of 6 and 12 years old coinciding with the schooling phase. Contact with other children of the same age allows them to develop their sense of socialization and the abilities that will allow them to relate to others.
This stage is characterized because the human being develops logical thinking, and improves his capacity to elaborate sentences of greater complexity, his reasoning capacity and learns to assimilate mathematical operations. It also highlights the ability to distinguish between their imagination and reality.
5. Adolescence
The stage of adolescence is usually between the ages of 12 and 17, although it varies greatly depending on the person and the age of the child.although it varies a lot depending on the person and some authors place its end at the age of 20. This vital phase is characterized by the onset of puberty and for being the transition stage between childhood and adulthood.
At this stage of life, the personality has just been consolidated and the search for self-identity intensifies. The sexual maturation of the individual is also completed and important physical changes take place. It is a phase of both physical and emotional alterations.
6. Stage of youth
From this stage on, the human being is considered to be an adult. The stage of youth is considered to go from the age of 18 to 35 years old approximately. Any change or development produced in previous stages is consolidated in this phase.
Up to the age of 25, the human being is at its peak in terms of physical and psychological capacities, which is the main characteristic of youth. As they advance in age they will be in decline.
7. Maturity or middle age
This stage of life goes from 36 to 50 years old, and is also known as middle age. also known as middle age. It is considered a stage of stability and few changes, in which the human being reaches a fullness at many levels, both psychological, labor or social. In many cases, self-realization as an individual is achieved.
8. Mature adulthood
The phase of mature adulthood is the one from 50 to 65 years of age.It is characterized as the beginning of the transition to old age.
At this stage, physical changes of deterioration begin to take place, so that health concerns start to become more important. Also, stability is already more consolidated, as well as the assimilation of losses, such as those of loved ones or work, due to retirement.
9. Third age
From the age of 65 onwards, it is considered the beginning of the third age stage.This is characterized as the phase of old age or senescence in human development.
It is a stage of greater loneliness, since the loss of work and children that may have been at home has been consolidated, producing a feeling of the empty nest. In addition the presence of the mourning is greater, by the losses that can occur of relatives and acquaintances of similar ages or of the own couple.
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