Each of the periods of a person's life is called an age or development cycle. The onset of a certain cycle is accompanied by a number of changes, both physiological and psychological. Such periods are quite long, and in each of them, a person faces various important tasks.
Features of the allocation of age stages
Isolation of human life cycles has undergone transformations over time. It is culturally dependent, as it is directly determined by the approach that exists in relation to the establishment of certain age limits in a particular social environment. For example, I. S. Kon emphasized that in order to understand the definition of the category of age, one should first of all be able to distinguish between the main reference systems in which a single cycle is described. Outside of connection with such reference systems, the selection of human life cycles does not make sense.
Life cycle reference systemsKona
The first of these systems is individual development, otherwise called ontogeny. This reference system allows you to set certain units of division - for example, the stages of development of the individual, the age of life. It concentrates on the age characteristics of a certain life meaning of a person.
The second frame of reference represents all those processes that are directly related to age. It allows you to set division units such as age groups or generations. One of her main directions is group differences.
The third frame of reference is certain ideas about age in the social environment, culture. Views on age-related changes differ from one society to another and may be perceived differently by individual economic, social and ethnic groups.
Infancy
The first human life cycle is called infancy. This is a very special time for a child. The social situation at this stage consists of two moments. The first of these is that the baby is a completely helpless creature. He cannot satisfy even the simplest biological needs without the help of an adult. His life depends entirely on the adult who is responsible for caring for him. It is the adult - most often the mother - who takes care of nutrition, movement in space and even turning from side to side. Such mediation allows us to consider that during this life cycle a person is a completely social being - his attitude to the world around himoriginally social.
How an infant communicates
But even being woven into the social system, the baby is deprived of the main tool of communication - speech. The whole organization of the child's life forces him to communicate as much as possible with an adult, and moreover, in a wordless manner. Between the maximum involvement in society and the minimum opportunities for communication, the foundation is laid for all further development. The beginning of such a human life cycle as infancy coincides in time with the end of the neonatal crisis. Here the turning point is between the second and third months. In psychology, there is a term "revitalization complex", which includes three main components - a smile, various vocalizations and a complex of motor reactions.
During the following months, further development of gross and fine motor skills occurs. Starting from 9 months, the child begins to crawl on all fours, keeping the torso in a horizontal position.
If at this stage of a person's life cycle an infant is deprived of communication or limited in communication with adults, he develops a deep mental retardation, manifested in the late development of movements, features of walking. Mental development lags behind. In science, this phenomenon is called hospitalism.
Early childhood
This stage of the human life cycle covers the range from 1 to 3 years. During this period, the social situation of development is changing. The child shows more and more independence and begins to enjoy communication with an adult.as a way of knowing the objective world. The situation of the inseparable unity of mother and child (according to Vygotsky, “We”) is gradually being destroyed.
The social situation at this stage is the situation of partner activity of a child and an adult. The major accomplishments during this human life cycle are:
- mastering your movements, body;
- learning speech;
- development of skills of interaction with objects.
Gradually, the child moves from the joint performance of certain manipulations with objects to an independent one. And inside the activity with objects, new types are born. It is a game and a productive activity.
Preschool
The next stage of the human life cycle lasts from 3 to 7 years. It is at this stage that the foundation is laid on which the personality of a person will be built in the future. At preschool age, the psyche, memory, and especially thinking develop intensively. Self-esteem begins to form.
The child becomes more independent by entering this life cycle of human development. Psychology has studied this stage in detail, and one of the features that researchers have identified is the constant pronunciation of two phrases. Why?" and "I myself." Parents at this time need to be patient, because the child begins to master the world around him.
Memory in a child at this age is involuntary. He remembers much better the information that causes himemotional experiences. For example, a child will remember a bright commercial better than a parent's boring and monotonous instructions - such is the peculiarity of the psyche in a given human life cycle. The psychology of the child is inextricably linked at this time with the development of thinking. If at the age of 3-4 years he first does something and then thinks, then by the age of 5 the opposite happens.
School age
This stage is characterized by the continuation of physical and mental development. At this time, the muscular system develops intensively, growth occurs faster, body proportions rapidly change and secondary sexual characteristics are formed.
In primary school age, nature focuses on the development of the muscular system, increasing growth and transforming bodily proportions. During the period of senior school age, girls (from about 10-12 years old) and boys (from 12-14 years old) begin puberty. Thus, these life cycles of human development are layered on top of each other. Middle school age and high school age coincide with puberty.
Adolescence
The next stage is the transition between childhood and adulthood. Adolescence lasts between 13 and 19 years of age. But changes in the psyche and body can begin much earlier - at the age of 9-12.
The most sensitive is the age of 11-13 years. At this time, adolescents are often ashamed of themselves, make ridiculous movements, cover their faces with hair out of embarrassment and try in every possible way to hide theirshyness.
At this age, a teenager is often disoriented. For the first time he puts before himself the questions of independence, the formation of personality. Adolescents often face difficulties in school, face serious choices in matters of alcohol, drugs or a he althy lifestyle. Great importance is attached to romantic interests and participation in teen communities.
Youth
Adolescence is followed by adolescence, which lasts until the age of 23. This age also accounts for many critical social events. A young man receives a passport, criminal liability arises, and the possibility of marriage arises. At this age, he is faced with the task of choosing a profession. Many young men and women at this time begin their labor activity. Time frames are expanding. The main dimension is the future. A person determines his life path.
Youth
This period covers the completion of adolescence and lasts until approximately 30 years of age. At this time, a person begins to establish himself in adulthood, in the profession. One of the most important moments at this time is the choice of a life partner and marriage. Usually at this stage, the woman's body is most ready for the birth of a child, so many families begin to have children.
Starting a family is essential for personal development. In many respects, the level of general development of a person depends on how family life develops - his spiritual growth, development in the profession. A failed marriage often hinders professional development,negatively affects relationships with the opposite sex.
Maturity
The full human life cycle includes a period of maturity. At this time, development takes on a new vector: now it is more due not to physical changes, but to mental improvement. A person at this age is able to adapt to new conditions, positively resolve the difficulties and contradictions in his life. Many successfully overcome psychological dependence on other people, gaining the ability to take responsibility in many areas of life.
Positive character traits develop - firmness, reliability, the ability to sympathize. In ancient Greece, this age was called "acme", which means "top". It is called acmeology and the science that studies mature age. This discipline belongs to developmental psychology. The full life cycle of human development consists of different stages, but it is at this age that a person acquires true maturity. The virtue of every psychologically mature person is "work and care". If a person does not want to work, or calms down in relation to any sphere of life, then degradation sets in.
Old age
Begins around age 61. The main task of a person is to achieve the fullness of his "I", confidence in the meaning of his existence. If the main tasks at the previous age stages were not resolved, then old age canaccompanied by feelings of disappointment and fear of death.
The social situation of personal development is associated with a departure from active participation in the life of society - retirement. Gradually, an elderly person is removed from society, a decline in the communicative function and a focus on their inner world.
Life cycles of a person by date of birth
You can meet the concept of life cycles not only in psychology, but also in numerology. This area is not scientific, although attractive to many. There are three main periods in numerology:
- The first is the time of formation under the influence of education. The number of the first period is calculated according to the day of the month of birth. January is number 1, February is number 2, etc.
- Second - the period of maximum concentration on work, the manifestation of creative abilities. The number is calculated using the birthday. If it exceeds 12, then add the numbers. For example, a person was born on the 18th. His number of this cycle is 1+8=9.
- Third - the time of personal development in world society. Calculated by converting to a single form or number of 11 or 12 years of birth. For example, the year of birth is 1995. Period number: 1+9+9+5=24; 2+4=6.
The meanings of periodic cycles are as follows:
- 1 - a great time to show individuality, an extremely intense period;
- 2 – a time of slow and calm development;
- 3 - stage of creative self-expression;
- 4 - a period of hard and hard work;
- 5 - time for free creativity,change;
- 6 - at this stage it is worth devoting time to the family;
- 7 - a period of philosophical rethinking of life;
- 8 - the time of financial independence;
- 9 - the stage when you should take care of others;
- 10 - a person should show maximum determination;
- 11 is the stage when communication with others is most enjoyable and effective.
