People go through different stages of life over the years, through which we grow, mature, and age .
We explain what each of these phases of human development consist of and what are the main characteristics of each of them.
What are life stages?
Human development can be classified into different stages of life through which each person passes. Each of these phases or stages is characterized by having in common a series of physical and psychological changes that determine our development and the way in which we behave.
There are many different proposals to categorize these stages and define where each one begins and ends. The most elaborate have focused above all on the childhood stages and the development of infants, as demonstrated by the theories in this regard provided by Sigmund Freud or Jean Piaget.
In this article, however, we will focus on the general stages we go through from the moment we are conceived until old age, and in the changes that mainly characterize each of these stages.
The 9 stages of life we go through
The beginning or end of these vital phases can vary according to the person, but we all go through these stages of life and these changes in our development.
one. 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 occurs inside the maternal uterus, which is why it is also known as the intrauterine phase.
At this stage of life we already begin to develop as human beings and the brain is already capable of detecting stimuli, such as touch or sound. Within this stage, three other subphases can be distinguished: the germinal, embryonic and fetal period In the latter is when the fetus has already formed and leaves to continue developing for 7 months until delivery.
After nine months of development, labor or birth is the point that marks the end of this first stage of human life.
2. Early childhood
The stage of early childhood is that which occurs from the birth of the baby to approximately 3 years of age. This stage of life is characterized by the development of the most basic learning of the human being.
Throughout this phase the child develops basic abilities such as reflex actions, during the neonatal period, and later other psychomotor and movement abilities, such as standing up, walking or learning to drive with hands. It is also at this stage that a large part of the capacity for language is developed.
3. Early Childhood Phase
The early childhood phase is from approximately 3 to 6 years, and is also known as the preschool age.
This is another important stage of life for human development, since it is when the child develops his sense of self and detaches himself from selfishness, learning to put himself in the place of others and to attribute thoughts and ideas.
4. Middle Childhood Phase
This stage of life occurs between the ages of 6 and 12 approximately, coinciding with the schooling phase.Contact with other children his age allows him to develop his sense of socialization and the skills that will allow him to relate to others.
This stage is characterized because the human being develops logical thinking, and improves his ability to elaborate more complex sentences, 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 some authors reach to place its term at 20 years. This vital phase is characterized by the onset of puberty and for being the transition stage between childhood and adulthood.
In this stage of life the personality has just been consolidated and the search for one's own identity intensifies.The sexual maturation of the individual has also just taken place and important changes in the physique take place. It is a phase of both physical and emotional alterations.
6. Youth stage
From this phase the human being is considered to be of adulthood. The stage of youth is considered to be from 18 to 35 years approximately. Any changes or developments produced in previous stages have just been consolidated in this phase.
Until the age of 25, human beings are at their peak in terms of physical and psychological capacities, which is what youth is mainly characterized by. As he advances in age they will decline.
7. Maturity or middle age
This stage of life goes from 36 to 50 years old, and it is also known as middle age It is considered a stage of stability and few changes, in which the human being reaches fullness at many levels, both psychological, work or social.In many cases self-realization is achieved as an individual.
8. Mature Adulthood
The phase of mature adulthood is the one between 50 and 65 years of age, and is characterized by being the beginning of transition to old age.
In this stage, deteriorating physical changes begin to take place, for which reason concern for he alth begins to gain importance. Stability is also more consolidated, as well as the assimilation of losses, such as those of loved ones or work, due to retirement.
9. Seniors
Over 65 years of age is already considered the beginning of the third age stage, which is characterized by being the phase of old age or senescence in human development.
It is a stage of greater loneliness, since the loss of work and of the children that may be in the home have been consolidated, producing a feeling of an empty nest.In addition, the presence of mourning is greater, due to the losses that may occur from relatives and acquaintances of similar ages or from the couple themselves.