1. The Life Cycle
Brittany Robisnon

2. Childhood Development
• There are 8 stages of life
• Each stage is defined by a developmental task:
events that need to happen in order for a
person to continue growing toward becoming
a healthy, mature adult
– If one stage is not completed it can be made up at
another stage

3. 4 Stages of Infancy and Childhood
• Infancy: birth-1year
• Task: develop trust
• the period of fastest growth
– Height by 50%
– Weight may triple

4. 4 Stages of Infancy and Childhood
• Early Childhood: 1-3 years
• Task: to develop ability to do tasks themselves
• Child develops sense of autonomy: the
confidence that a person can control his or her
own body, impulses, and environment
• Overprotection may cause child to lack sense
of autonomy

5. 4 Stages of Infancy and Childhood
• Middle Childhood: 4-6 years
• Task: to develop responsibility, take
initiative, to create one’s own play
• Ask many questions, learn to express and read
emotion, be creative in developing something
• Impatient parents may cause their child to
have a low self-esteem

6. 4 Stages of Infancy and Childhood
• Late Childhood: 7-12 years
• Task: to develop an interest in performing
activities
• Develop a conscience, learn appropriate social
roles, and get along with peers

7. Adolescence
• The period from childhood to adulthood
• Puberty: the time when a person begins to
develop certain traits of adults of his or her
own gender; the beginning of adolescence
– Occurs sometime between the ages of 12-18;
determined mainly by heredity

8. Adolescence
• Puberty
– Develop sex characteristics: traits related to a
person’s gender
– Secondary sex characteristics:
• Female: breasts, hips widen, waistline narrows
• Males: facial hair appears, voice deepens, shoulders
broaden, muscle develops

9. Adolescence
• Developmental Tasks:
– Establish emotional and psychological
independence
– Develop a personal sense of identity
– Adopt a personal value system
– Establish adult vocational goals
– Develop control over your behavior

10. Moving Toward Adulthood
• Physical maturity: the state at which the
physical body and all its organs are fully
developed
• Emotional maturity: state at which the mental
and emotional capabilities of an individual are
fully developed

11. The Stages of Adulthood
• Young Adulthood: 19-40 years
• Task: to develop close personal relationships
• Four major focuses:
– Personal independence
– Occupational choices
– Intimate relationships
– Contributions to society

12. Personal Independence
• Self-actualization: developing one’s
capabilities to the fullest
• Move from parent support to friend support
to self-sufficient

13. Occupational Choices
• Influences may include:
– Part-time job
– Role model
– Amount of education towards a certain
occupation

14. Intimate Relationships
• Emotional Intimacy: ability to experience a
caring, loving relationship with another
person whom you can share your innermost
feeling
• Romantic relationships, marriage
ABSTAIN!!!!!

15. Contributing to Society
• Developing political views
• Developing religious views
• Taking part in community programs

16. Marriage
• Commitment: a promise or pledge that a
couple makes to one another
• Marital adjustments: how well a person
adjusts to his or her spouse
– Good Communication: need to share feelings and
express concerns; demonstrating affection
– Emotional Maturity: understand their partners
needs and can compromise
– Similar Values and Interests: spending more time
together strengthes the relationship

17. Resolving Conflicts
• Can reduce conflicts by having good
communication and conflict resolution skills
• Possible Conflicts:
– Difference in spending habits
– Conflicting loyalties involving family and friends
– Lack of communication
– Lack of intimacy
– Jealousy, infidelity, lack of attention
– Decisions about children
– Abusive tendencies