Stages of human development: ages, characteristics

What are the stages of human development?

The stages of human development are a series of biological, physical, emotional, psychological and social changes that people go through throughout their life path.

The life cycle of a person ideally involves seven stages of human development:

• Prenatal phase Childhood Childhood Adolescence Youth Adulthood Old age

Each of these stages of development brings with it a series of changes that are essential for the evolution of the individual, hence it is important to know the characteristics of each stage.

Prenatal phase (pregnancy)

It is the stage of development that takes place in the womb and in which the embryo begins its development process until it becomes a fully formed newborn. It includes three sub stages:

Germinal period

It is the moment of conception, when an egg is fertilized by a sperm and begins to move towards the uterus, where it will implant

Embryonic period

It is the stage in which the division of cells according to their functions begins, and which will later give rise to the baby's bone, muscle and different organs.

Fetal period

In this phase the organs begin to form and mature. This stage of development begins at 12 weeks of gestation and ends with the birth of the baby.

See also Pregnancy.

Childhood (0 to 6 years old)

It is the development phase characterized by learning psycho-motor skills and abilities, as well as language. Other characteristics of the childhood stage are:

• The infant begins to feed on solid food.The first movements begin autonomously, first crawling and then walking.Pronouncing the first words.Learning the basic notions of reading and writingInteraction with the physical environment (going down stairs, climbing a chair) and social (meet and play with other pairs).

Childhood (6 to 12 years old)

For many specialists, childhood is the most important stage of human development, since it is there that the psycho-social and emotional skills fundamental to healthy development are acquired and lays the foundation for what the individual will be like in the future.

Among its characteristics, the following stand out:

• Development of cognitive skills (association of ideas, recognition of colors, shapes and structures) Evolution of skills for reading, writing and logical thinking. On a social level, it is a period of much interaction in which the first links begin to form outside the home through education and recreational activities.

See also Childhood.

Adolescence (12 to 20 years old)

Biologically, adolescence is the stage of human development marked by hormonal and physical changes that will determine the individual's sexual maturity. It is subdivided into two phases:

Early adolescence (12 to 15 years old)

It is characterized by:

• Height increase. Weight and height changes. Appearance of body hair. Breast growth in women and the beginning of menstruation. Appearance of sexual desire in both genders. Tendency to isolation or distancing from the family nucleus.

Late adolescence (15-20 years)

At this stage, the sexual maturation process is completed and the adolescent prepares for adulthood. It involves the completion of secondary studies, as well as the exploration of academic or professional interests.

See also Adolescence.

Youth (20-25 years old)

In this stage, the first adult social interactions begin, although the individual still lacks emotional maturity. Among other characteristics of this stage of development, the following stand out:

• Culmination of the physical development process. The individual begins to experience the world with a clearer vision of himself and what he wants for the future. In many cases, this is the stage of emancipation, as the individual begins to generate his own income and lay the foundation for his adult life.

Adulthood (25-60 years old)

It is the longest stage of human development, and involves various physical, emotional and psychological changes depending on the age and phase of each person. It has, in turn, three classifications:

Young adulthood (25-40 years old)

In principle, adulthood is the period of greatest vitality and activity. Some outstanding features are:

• It is the phase of greatest productivity, since it coincides with the completion of higher education and professional development. It is also the stage in which, ideally, it is procreated, since people are at the peak of their reproductive capacity and maturity emotional necessary to face the changes that this process implies.

Intermediate adulthood (40 to 50 years old)

From the age of 40, the changes typical of menopause in women and andropause in men begin, characterized by:

• Hormonal fluctuations Emotional changes Weight and height change Decreased sexual desire Appearance of gray hair and expression lines Loss of bone and muscle mass.

Late adulthood (50-60 years old)

In addition to the intensification of physical changes that began in earlier stages, late adulthood is characterized by a series of vital changes that have an impact on social dynamics:

• Emancipation of the children, which in many cases implies the beginning of a period of solitude for the parents. It is the phase of retirement and the rethinking of priorities, so that skills, talents, hobbies and social ties take on special importance. during this period, decreased sexual desire in both sexes, problems with vaginal lubrication in women and erectile dysfunction in men.

See also Adulthood.

Old age (60 years and older)

Old age, also called old age, is the last stage of human development and is characterized by

• Progressive deterioration of physical and cognitive abilities. Tendency to social isolation, either as a consequence of the appearance or evolution of diseases or by the reduction of the social circle caused by the death of other peers. Acceleration of the aging process (the skin loses its elasticity, wrinkles deepen, hair begins to fall out). Acceleration of loss of bone and muscle mass. Decreased vision and hearing.

However, factors such as quality of life and health habits acquired in previous vital stages can positively influence this phase. A healthy adult in physical and emotional terms will face old age with a better perspective, hence it is important to create the conditions and habits in a timely manner for it to be so.

See also Old age.