Developmental Stages in Middle and Late

Lesson 3
Adolescence

Human Development
Every development that occurs in the life of an individual is obviously an
aspect of human life. The changes that across the lifespan, including physical,
cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality and emotional is part of the
development growth of a person.
Human development stages are a process that a person moves through
from infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The study of human
development is important to know because this would help you understand how
humans learn, mature and adapt to the environment throughout lives.
Developmental Stages of Life
Development is defined as a growth and change that people go through in
life. John Santrock’s, a scholar in the field of Developmental Psychology, divided
the human lifespan in eight periods:
1. Pre-natal period- (conception to birth)- growth of single cell to an
organism, complete with brain and behavioral capabilities.
2. Infancy-(birth to 18-24 months)- time to extreme dependence on adults,
Psychological Activities are just beginning (language, symbolic thought,
and sensory-motor coordination and social learning is developed.
3. Early Childhood-(2-6 years old) young children learn to become more self-
sufficient and care for more themselves, develop school readiness skills
and spend many hours in play with peers.
4. Middle Childhood-(6-11 years old)- Fundamental skills of reading, writing
and arithmetic are mastered, Child is formally exposed to larger world and
its culture.
5. Adolescence- (10-12 to 18 to 21 years) begins with a rapid physical
change (gains in weight and in height, changes in body contour, and
development of sexual characteristics such as enlargement of breast,
development of pubic hair and facial hair, deepening of voice). Pursuits of
independence and identity are prominent. Thought is more logical,
abstract and idealistic. More time spent outside family.
6. Early Adulthood-(20-30 years old) Time to establishing personal and
economic independence, career development, selecting a mate, learning
to live with someone in an intimate way, starting a family and rearing g
child.
7. Middle Adulthood-(40-60 years old) Time of spending personal and social
involvement and responsibly. Assisting next generation in becoming
competent and mature individuals, reaching and maintaining satisfaction
in a career.
8. Late Adulthood-(60 above) Time for adjustment to decreasing stretch and
health, life review, retirement and adjustment to new social roles.

Developmental Stages form Middle and Late Adolescence

2
 This is the transition age from childhood to adulthood. In this stage a
rapid physical development takes place, sexual, cognitive, social, and emotional
changes happens as they hit the late adolescence. Self-acceptance and self-love
is important.
Adolescence is divided into three stages:
1. Early adolescence begins in the age of 10 to 13, during this stage, children
often start to grow more quickly. They also begin notice other body change. Pre-
teens feel an increase need for privacy. They start to explore ways of being
independent from their family.
2. Middle adolescence is ages from 14-17, this is when physical changes
from puberty continue. Many teens become interested in romantic and sexual
relationship. This period also a start of questioning their sexual identity. There
are times they struggle for more independence and spend more time with
friends and less time with the family. Teens become more conscious with their
appearance. They need the feeling of sense of belongingness that’s why peers is
important to them.
3. Late adolescence, ages from 18-21, generally have completed physical
development and growth to their full adult height. They can identify their own
values. Friendships and relationships become more stable. They may become
more focused on the future based decisions on their hopes and ideals. The
overlapping of age indicates the beginning of manifestation of changes to the
body of a child.
A developmental task is a task that arises at or about a certain period of
life, unsuccessful achievement of which leads to inability to perform task
associated with the next period of stage in life. In the theory of developmental
task was discussed by Robert James Havighurst, a 20 th century psychologist who
is expert on human development and aging, conceptualize the age-related task
of human growth. He also stated that: “a task is a task which arises at or about a
certain period in the life of the individual, successful achievement of which leads
to happiness and success with later tasks, while failure leads to unhappiness and
difficulty with later task.” Our life faces challenges we able to surpass these by
the help of the people around us.

The following gives us an overview of the development task of the middle and
late adolescent.
1. Leaning to get along with friend of Learn to look upon girls as women
both and boys as men, to become an adult
Sexes among adults, to learn to work with
others for a common purpose,
disregarding personal feelings, to lead
without dominating.
2. Accepting one’s physical body and To accept one’s body, to keep it
keeping it healthy healthy through good nutrition,
exercise, disease prevention, and
other health practices.
3. Becoming more self-sufficient To develop affection for parents
without dependence upon them, to

3
 develop respect for older adults
without dependence upon them.
4. Making decisions about marriage To explore attitudes towards family
and life and having children, to acquire
family life the knowledge necessary for home
management and, if desired, child
bearing.
5. Preparing for a job or career To develop career/vocational goals
and ways to reach these goals, to be
able to make a living.
6. Acquiring a set of values to guide To develop an outlook toward life
Behavior based on what is important.
7. Becoming socially responsible To participate as a responsible person
with friends at home, and the
community, to develop personal
moral values to guide behavior.