Question

Discuss the three major developmental stages that mark human growth and development between birth and adulthood. What are the hallmarks of each stage, and what events and milestones divide one stage from the next?

Answer 1

Discuss the three major developmental stages that mark human growth and development between birth and adulthood. What are the hallmarks of each stage, and what events and milestones divide one stage from the next?

The domains which comprises the human development are: physical development, cognitive development, social-emotional development and language development. They are unique and doesn’t overlap. These domains are achieved by interpersonal skills that and achieving the milestone in those mark the boundary of various stages of human development. The broad three stages of human development are:

• Infacy
• Childhood
• Adolescence and adulthood.

Infancy

It is the first stage of human development and occurs during the first year of life. The major milestone of this stage is concerned with the physical gain and gain of control over the body. This phase has the need of dependency on others for most of the need and thereby, trusting nature develops. Both emotional and physical maturation depends on the pampering and the feel of security given by the parents.

Childhood

The second stage of human development is the ‘childhood’ which comprises early and late childhood. Early childhood is the term after infancy to eight years and the late childhood is from 8 to 18. During this stage the sense of independence is gained by exploring and learning. This phase deals with the growth of all the domains of human development. The hall of this stage is the ability to achieve self-confidence. Till 5 years of age, the growth is rapid and fine motor skills are begin to develop. Whereas by 8 years of age, refined motor skills and body proportions are achieved. It is also accompanied by the cognitive and language development. The late childhood is marked as the latency stage and there is a repressed urges of sexual and aggressiveness. The hall mark of this stage is the learning of the values of their societies and can be called as integration. Physical growth is in slow pace as compared to early childhood or adolescence, until the onset of puberty

Adolescence

Now the child has become as young man and women, concerned with their own identity. Many physical and psychological changes attributed to puberty makes them to adapt in the adolescence. This could mark the adolescence as a confusing and stressful period. Again the period of accelerated growth. The growth spurt marks the two years of fast physical growth. The milestone of this period is the sexual maturation. It also deals with the emotional development and mood swings.