Although we often consider that “life” is a single thing that we all experience, the truth is that there are some nuances that make each of us go through it in different ways. One of the factors that causes it to change is the material context in which we live, such as the type of family we are born into, the money we have, the place we live, etc.
However, A no less important factor is the way in which our own body makes us live And, in that sense, the passage of years and age make us experience things differently.
That is why, for example, In the history of psychology, there are many authors who have set out to classify stages of life, especially those that are part of one of its phases: childhood. Although each one defined their own criteria to decide where one ended and the other began.
Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, defined different stages of psychosexual development, a theory closely related to his idea of the unconscious mind. Jean Piaget, in turn, laid the foundations of Evolutionary Psychology by establishing stages of cognitive development that range from childhood to adulthood.
But all these ideas are framed in a broader theoretical context that tells us about the stages of life in general, valuing both psychological and physical changes.
The different phases of life we go through
We’ll see now What are the main stages of life that define how we behave? how we perceive reality and what our needs are.
Although it is true that the limits of these stages are not very clear and it is debatable whether some begin or end earlier or later, there is a relative consensus about what they are and how they occupy our lives.
1. Prenatal stage
Life begins before we are born, and The prenatal stage is the one that includes the moments in which it has not yet left the uterus In this period we are already capable of learning through touch and sounds, that is, the human brain already associates stimuli with appropriate responses. In fact, the bond between baby and mother is already established at this stage, through the exchange of sounds and touch (in addition to the shared flows of hormones, of course).
In part, the timeline separating birth, on the one hand, and the stage of development in the womb, on the other, is arbitrary when it comes to psychological development: the same mental abilities we have right after birth are We have hours before delivery.
2. Early childhood
Early childhood begins at birth and ends around 3 or 4 years of age It is the stage in which the most important steps are taken in the development of language and essential learning about how the world works and the movement of things is also carried out.
One of the most striking characteristics of this phase of life is the ease with which very young boys and girls learn to speak and understand what is said to them. This occurs, in part, due to a predisposition to detect very subtle differences between phonemes and to identify syllables and words, so that in a matter of a few months, and starting approximately a year and a half after birth, The vocabulary that children can use expands very quickly
Furthermore, the use of language causes increasingly more abstract and complex concepts to begin to be created in your mind that will help you reach a deeper level of understanding about things.
On the other hand, At the end of this stage, boys and girls begin to develop what is known as theory of mind: they become able to understand that each individual has different levels of knowledge about something, and do not assume that everyone knows what one has observed (perhaps, when alone).
3. Early childhood
This stage of life is the one that, more or less, goes from 3 to 6 years old ; That is why it is also defined as the preschool stage.
In this phase, the self-concept is formed and the ability to think about the mental states of others is gained, either to intuit their intentions or to know what information they do not know. This ability is called theory of mind.
On the other hand, In this phase of life, the social life that boys and girls maintain with their peers is already very important, that is, children of the same age, so they feel the need to experience things beyond the family environment, which is their first space for socialization. Of course, their role model or reference, generally, continues to be made up of dad and mom.
4. Middle childhood
Middle or school childhood goes from 6 to 11 years old At this stage, much progress occurs in the ability to understand mathematical operations and the structure of complex sentences.
Likewise, the importance of having good relationships with others and giving a good image begins to gain weight, and inclusion in a group of friends is also valued more.
5. Adolescence
Adolescence goes from 11 to 17 years old It is a crucial stage, since the ability to think in abstract terms is consolidated and hormonal changes also occur that can produce a certain emotional lability.
Furthermore, during adolescence the most intense part of the search for one’s own identity occurs, and the social circles to which one wants to belong gain a lot of influence on the person.
6. Stage of youth
This stage goes, approximately, from 18 to 35 years old Here the consolidation of the most lasting circles of friendship occurs and one learns to live with a high degree of independence, so that there is almost no dependence on one’s parents. Psychologically and biologically, physical and mental capacities also reach their ceiling, and between the ages of 25 and 30 they begin to decline slightly.
7. Stage of maturity
Maturity ranges from 36 to 50 years In this phase, the work aspect is consolidated and a specialization is fully learned that will allow generating income to live independently in most Western countries.
On the other hand, expectations of change in one’s life become moderate and life goals are oriented more towards stability.
8. Stage of mature adulthood
This phase goes from 50 to 65 years old In it, it is customary to consolidate the level of income at levels that allow one to live better than before, but bodily changes occur that must be managed. At the same time, the assessment of stability also increases.
9. Seniors
Third age begins at 65 years old and in it a new independence is gained when the usual work obligations disappear and when any sons and daughters that one may have had leave.
In some cases this produces Empty Nest Syndrome, and exposure to grief is more frequent as family members of the same generation and friends die.
