We all move through a set of fairly predictable stages as we move through life. These stages are sequential and are related to our age. People of the same age often tend to be in the same stage.

Stages are based on the work of Erik Erikson, Lawrence Kohlberg and Gail Sheehey

Infants and Toddlers

Birth to 3 years Major issues:

Physical development Language development Mental development

Attachment and Separation – forming relationships and learning that you are separate from your environment

Early Childhood: Egocentric Years ages 4 – 6

Major Issues: Learning that males and females are

different Learning abstract concepts (love,

empathy, cooperation, etc) Beginning to distinguish right from

wrong Dealing with fears (e.g. “monsters in the

closet”) Increasing peer group interaction

Middle Childhood

Ages 6 – 12 Begin to learn:

self-acceptance Appropriate male/female roles To get along with others in their age

group

Begin to develop a conscience Primary influence: parents

Adolescence

Ages 12 – 17

Adolescence is a major transition period between childhood and adulthood

Transitions

Whenever we move from one life stage to another, we go through a transition period

Transition periods are difficult, because they challenge our beliefs and cause us to move out of our “comfort zones”

Events in our lives can cause us to move into a transition period

Transitions are important because they cause us to grow

Adolescence

Develop more mature relationships with peers

Accepting of physical self Achieve emotional independence

from parents Prepare for marriage and a career Acquire a set of values and an

ethical system Show socially responsible behavior

Central process of adolescence is answering the question:

Who am I?

Primary influence: peers

Prior to young adulthood, we all go through the stages at about the same time. The stages are based on age.

After adolescence, we go through the remaining stages at our own pace. The events of our lives more than our age moves us into another stage.

Provisional Adulthood

Generally between the ages of 18 – 30 During this stage, one transitions from

being the responsibility of one’s parents to being responsible for oneself

Decide what our goals are in life and how we are going to achieve them

Most people choose a life partner and begin a family during this stage

During this stage one establishes him/herself

as a worthwhile and significant individual

First Adulthood

Begins no earlier than age 30 Tendency to look back at what you

have accomplished and at what you want to do with the rest of your life

Realization that you may not meet all the goals you had when you were younger – decide what changes need to be made to meet the ones you still want to work on

The big questions:

Am I happy with the choices I have made so far?

and

What do I need to do to change things so that I am happy?

If one is going to have a mid-life crisis, it will happen during this stage as people re-evaluate: Marriage relationship Career Relationship to aging parents Relationship to growing children (who

may be entering adolescence!)

Second Adulthood

Begins no earlier than age 45 Often a time of adjustment to major

life changes: Children growing up and leaving home Career changes and/or retirement Death of one’s parents Physical changes and limitations Changes in one’s financial situation

For many Americans, this is a positive stage of life because:

They have more freedom and can do what they want to do

They are at the peak of their careers or are retired

Many people remain healthy and active into their 80s or later

Third Adulthood

Begins around the age of 70 A time of adjustments:

Retirement Health issues Death of spouse

A time when we either give ourselves the permission to do the things we really want to do and enjoy ourselves or we sit back and let ourselves decline until

we die