Age groups. Childhood, adolescence, advanced age

In the biological sense, the word "development" refers to certain changes in the human body. They occur over time and due to the internal capabilities of the body, and through interaction with the environment. However, different age groups are distinguished not only by biological characteristics. A certain percentage of personal development is contributed by external events that occur to a person.

Are there any clear boundaries of age groups?

Periodization of different age groups is unambiguously defined in psychological science. But even if it existed, one can never say how the factors of the external environment affect a person . For example, adolescence, according to some scientists, ends in 18-20 years. However, in countries that are in difficult economic or social conditions, it can last from its inception for a maximum of three to four years. After that, practically the child will be forced to enter adulthood.

Likewise, this can also be the case with the age of late adulthood. Traditionally it is believed that this stage comes not earlier than 60-65 years. However, if a person is forced to perform heavy physical work for a long time, to undernourish or to undergo other unfavorable factors, it is quite possible that the age of late adulthood is 45 years old.

Childhood period

Early age is the time of rapid development of speech function. It occurs in parallel with cognitive and social development. Physical abilities also increase. A plump two-year-old child by the age of six turns into a slender little man who has coordination and dexterity. The following age groups of children stand out: infancy (up to a year), early childhood (1-3 years), childhood (up to seven years), younger schoolchildren (up to 10 years).

Early age is the time of development of the intellect. Up to five years, the children's thinking is characterized by the qualities of animism (the appropriation of objects by the properties of living beings), materialization (they consider the objects of their fantasies to be real), egocentrism (they understand the world only from their point of view).

Teenage years

Many scientists, he was classified as a period of dependence on parents, which is between childhood and adulthood. The interests of adolescents concern the planning of their professional life, the sphere of love and friendship, social interaction. For them, economic and political issues become important. As indicated, the delay in adolescence for a long period is more characteristic of industrialized countries. In the 18-19th centuries, and also in the 20th century due to unfavorable economic conditions or wars, adolescents, becoming labor, quickly turned into adults.

Elderly - late adulthood

A distinctive feature (the so-called neoplasm of the psyche) of this age is a quality such as wisdom. This is a personal experience, received by a person for a long time practical knowledge, the information that is obtained by him throughout his life.

But, despite the presence of wisdom, the brain of many older people is exposed to cognitive disorders. Fading cognitive activity can occur for various reasons: Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia, lack of cerebral blood supply. However, it must be understood that the aging of the body is a process that begins long before old age. For example, a woman after 30 can already notice age signs: small wrinkles, reduction of vitality, graying of hair.

In the elderly, significant changes occur both at the physiological level and in the social life of the individual. First of all, retirement has a great influence. This is a change in status, and changes in the life of the order. With the help of work, a person's time is always structured. The pensioner often feels as if he is "out of the game".

Classification of Erickson: early childhood

The well-known psychologist E. Erikson distinguished the following age groups and the corresponding stages of development. The first stage is infancy. At this time, the main question, which is solved by a small person, refers to confidence or distrust of the surrounding world. The infant determines for himself whether the world is a safe place or whether it is still a threat. The result of the successful passage of this stage is a high level of vitality, joy.

The second stage covers the age from one to three years. At this time, the child becomes more and more independent. Children under 3 years of age are increasingly feeling their independence, because they learn to walk. At the same time, it is necessary for them to maintain basic trust. The main role in this is played by parents. Their demands, on the one hand, help to do this. When a child is overcome by destructive impulses, parental restrictions take effect. On the other hand, he has a feeling of shame. After all, even if the condemning adults do not watch him, then he perfectly feels at what point he does wrong. The world around us begins to observe him from the inside.

At the stage from 4 to 6 years the child must choose between two alternatives - initiative and a sense of guilt. He develops a fantasy, he actively devises his own games, the speech becomes more and more rich.

School and adolescence by Erickson

From 6 to 11 years, the child should develop a sense of competence. If this does not happen, then this feeling is replaced by inferiority. Such a process is connected with the fact that during this period the child has mastered cultural values. Children increasingly identify themselves with adults who represent a particular profession.

The stage from 11 to 20 years, says Erickson, is the main one for the successful development of the personality. At this stage, the child or teenager collects about himself a maximum of information. He looks at himself as a student, a friend, a child of his parents, an athlete and so on. If this stage is successful, then a stable life position appears in the person, the ability to cope with difficulties is formed.

Adult Age by Erickson

From 21 to 25 years, young people are beginning to solve increasingly adult problems. They marry, plan the appearance of the child, carry out important elections.

The listed age groups refer to those segments of the life path on which the personality develops. Then comes the longest stage, lasting, according to Erickson, from 25 to 60 years. At this time, the main human problem is the stagnation of life, the inability to develop in everyday life. But if he still succeeds, then he gets a high reward - a persistent sense of self-identity.

At this age, there are changes that are associated with self-determination, and with a personal life. Men and women at this stage have a mid-life crisis . A woman after 30 reaches the peak of her sexuality.

The age of 60 years depends largely on how the previous years were lived. Old age will be peaceful, if for his life a man achieved what he wanted, lived it dignifiedly. Otherwise, he will suffer torment.