Stages Of Human Development

There are various stages which constitute development in human beings which take place during the lifespan, including birth, infancy, early and late adolescence, early and late adulthood and death. Humans experience many biological, emotional, psychological and social changes during these stages, many which occur simultaneously, or independent of each other. The characteristics of these stages may be comparatively similar and different when observing the two genders, but there are also similarities and differences within the same gender group. In addition, there are cultural characteristics that make the life stages similar or different between the genders. In essence, the process of human development is a very complex and varied experience …show more content…
While there have been many different scientific theories and hypotheses related to the exact age of when these changes will occur, and many different factors that may influence the onset, there does not exist a standard age across the spectrum of cultures or genders of initial age of puberty. According to Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2010), “Acting as a catalyst for all of these changes is an increase in the production of hormones. Hormones are chemical substances secreted by the endocrine glands” (p. 279). In general, most girls begin the initial changes experienced with the onset at approximately ten to fourteen years of age, while boys begin at approximately between the ages of twelve and sixteen. These changes can be markedly different when observing the changes in both genders, but the initial onset of puberty involves several internal and external determining …show more content…
The biological, psychological and social developments associated with puberty within adolescence are directly related to all other experiences and occurrences that are either triggered by or experienced simultaneously with the changes of life. The occurrence of early puberty in both boys and girls will either be a positive or negative experience, in accordance with all other human developmental stages. Conceptually, the bio-psycho-social aspects of early puberty are varied. The onset of early puberty can have a negative physical outcome (i.e.: early nocturnal emissions in boys and early menstruation in girls), and then cause the child to worry or stress about the changes (develop low self esteem or depression) and then socially isolate themselves from friends and family. Conversely, the child may also experience a positive outcomes with early puberty, or what may be considered a good experience such as more attention popularity amongst their peers. However, these positive outcomes may be fleeting and only viewed as such by the specific individual, in. Impairs on to those related to the