The Life Cycle and AgingChapter 3, Lesson 8 and 9

The Stages of Life• There are nine stages of life.

▫Infancy▫Early Childhood▫Middle Childhood▫Late Childhood▫Adolescence▫Transition to Adulthood▫First Adulthood▫Second Adulthood▫Late Adulthood

• You must master one stage before you can move onto another!

Infancy

•Birth to 1 year•Grow rapidly, almost tripling in weight•Completely dependent on others for food,

clothing, and shelter•If needs are met = perceive adults as

reliable and trustworthy•If needs are not met = more likely to be

distrustful and suspicious of others

Early Childhood• 1 to 3 years• Begin to:

▫ explore their environment▫Develop physical skills (walking, etc)▫Gain some independence in self-care (toiled

trained)• If they are encouraged in their attempts to

become more independent, children gain confidence in this stage.

• If they are not encouraged, they may develop doubt and shame.

Middle Childhood

•3 to 6 years•Very imaginative•Begin to:

▫Initiate activities▫Invent ways of playing

Late Childhood• 6 to 12 years• Learn:

▫Many important academic skills at school▫To relate to peers in more structured settings,

such as a sports team• If challenges of in previous stages have been

mastered and they are encouraged, they feel active and are able to acquire these skills.

• If challenges have not been mastered and encouragement is missing, they may doubt their abilities and feel incompetent or inferior.

Adolescence•12 to 18 years•The physical, emotional, and social

transition from childhood to adulthood.•Time of profound physical and emotional

growth.•Most importantly, adolescents try to

develop a sense of identity.▫A sense of who you are.▫If an identity is developed, adolescents are

more likely to succeed.▫If it is not developed, adolescents may

experience confusion about their role in life.

The Tasks of Adolescence

1. Having healthful friendships with both males and females.

2. Being comfortable with being male or female.

3. Being comfortable with one’s body.4. Gaining skills that will help the individual

become independent from parents and other adults.

The Tasks of Adolescence

5. Learning skills to use later in marriage and becoming a parent.

6. Learning skills to help get a job and earn money.

7. Developing a clear set of values to guide behavior.

8. Developing a social conscience.

Emotional and Social Changes in Adolescence• Emotional:

▫ Rising levels of hormones can cause strong emotions, or mood swings

▫ Self-consciousness may occur with all of the changes from puberty

▫ Romantic feelings▫ Friendships

• Social:▫ Interactions with others▫ Peers become the focus

of social interactions▫ Finding a balance

between family and peers

The Stages of Adulthood•Transition to Adulthood (18-30)

▫Young adults strive to be independent from their parents and establish close relationships with other adults.

▫Must develop the skills to live independently.•First Adulthood (30-45)

▫Work to establish careers and raise children ▫Set financial and career goals and work to

achieve them.

The Stages of Adulthood• Second Adulthood (45-70)

▫Face major changes in life Children leave home Retirement Previous goals and accomplishments need to be

reevaluated• Late Adulthood (70+)

▫Come to terms with retirement, issues of independence and dependence, the loss of friends and loved ones, the prospect of their own death, and the self-assessment of whether life has been well lived.

Measuring Age•Chronological Age:

▫The number of years a person has lived▫Measured by a calendar

•Biological Age:▫Based on how well a person’s body parts

are functioning Influenced by heredity, health habits, and the

quality of health care a person receives•Social Age:

▫Indicator of a person’s age based on involvement with others

Life Cycle Assessment• Your Task:

▫Interview a parent or friend that has seen you develop through the first five life stages.

▫Record their answers on the worksheet. Make sure to have the person you interviewed

sign the worksheet!