Human life cycles: definition, concept, division into stages, periods of development and decline and calculation rules

Each of the periods of a person’s life is called an age or a development cycle. The onset of a certain cycle is accompanied by a number of changes, both physiological and psychological in nature. Such periods are quite long, and on each of them a person faces various important tasks.

Features of the allocation of age stages

The isolation of human life cycles has undergone transformations over time. It is culturally dependent, as it is directly determined by the approach that exists in relation to the establishment of certain age limits in a particular social environment. For example, I. S. Kon emphasized that in order to understand the definition of the age category, first of all, one should be able to distinguish between the basic reference systems in which a single cycle is described. Out of touch with such reference systems, the allocation of human life cycles does not make sense.

Cohn Life Cycle Reference Systems

The first of these systems is individual development, otherwise called ontogenesis. This reference system allows you to set certain units of division - for example, the stages of development of an individual, the age of life. It focuses on the age-related properties of a person’s specific life meaning.

The second reference system is all those processes that are directly related to age. It allows you to specify such units of division as age groups or generations. One of the main directions she sets is group differences.

The third reference system is certain ideas about age in the social environment, culture. Views on age-related changes vary from one society to another and can be perceived by different economic, social and ethnic groups differently.

Infancy

The first human life cycle is called infancy. This is a very special time for the child. The social situation at this stage consists of two points. The first of these is that the baby is a completely helpless creature. He cannot satisfy even the simplest biological needs without the help of an adult. His life entirely depends on the adult who is responsible for caring for him. It is the adult - most often the mother - who cares about nutrition, movement in space and even turning from side to side. Such mediation allows us to consider that during this life cycle a person is a completely social being - his attitude to the world around him is initially social.

How the baby communicates

But even being woven into the social system, the infant is deprived of the main tool of communication - speech. The whole organization of a child’s life forces him to communicate with an adult as much as possible, and moreover in a wordless way. Between the maximum involvement in society and the minimum opportunities for communication, the foundation is laid for all further development. The beginning of a person’s life cycle, like infancy, coincides in time with the end of the neonatal crisis. Here the turning point is between the second and third months. In psychology, there is the term “revitalization complex”, which includes three main components - this is a smile, various vocalizations and a complex of motor reactions.

Over the next months there is a further development of large and fine motor skills. Starting from 9 months, the baby begins to crawl on all fours, holding the torso in a horizontal position.

If at this stage of a person’s life cycle the infant is deprived of communication or limited in communication with adults, he develops a deep mental retardation, manifested in the late development of movements, especially walking. Mental development sharply lags behind . In science, this phenomenon is called hospitalism.

Early childhood

This stage of the human life cycle covers a range of 1 to 3 years. During this period, the social situation of development is changing. The child shows more and more independence and begins to use communication with adults as a way of knowing the objective world. The situation of inextricable unity of mother and child (according to Vygotsky, “We”) is gradually being destroyed.

The social situation at this stage is a situation of partnership between a child and an adult. The main achievements during this life cycle of a person’s life are as follows:

• mastery of one’s movements, body;
• speech development;
• development of skills of interaction with objects.

Gradually, the child moves from the joint execution of certain manipulations with objects to an independent one. And inside the activity with objects, new species are emerging. This is a game and productive activity.

Preschool age

The next stage of a person’s life cycle lasts from 3 to 7 years. It is at this stage that the foundation is laid on which the person’s personality will be built in the future. In preschool age, the psyche, memory, and especially thinking develop intensively. Self-esteem begins to form.

The child becomes more independent, entering into this life cycle of human development. Psychology has studied this stage in detail, and one of the features identified by the researchers is the constant pronunciation of two phrases. Why?" and "I myself." Parents need to be patient at this time, because the child begins to master the world around him.

The memory of a child at this age is involuntary. He remembers much better the information that causes him emotional feelings. For example, a child will better remember a vivid commercial than a boring and monotonous instruction of a parent - this is a peculiarity of the psyche on a given person’s life cycle. Child psychology is inextricably linked at this time with the development of thinking. If at the age of 3-4 years he first does something, and then thinks, then by 5 years the opposite happens.

School age

This stage is characterized by the continuation of physical and mental development. At this time, the muscular system is developing rapidly, growth is faster, body proportions are rapidly changing and secondary sexual characteristics are forming.

At a primary school age, nature places emphasis on the development of the muscular system, growth and transformation of body proportions. In the period of senior school age in girls (from about 10-12 years) and in boys (from 12-14 years), the puberty begins. Thus, these life cycles of human development are superimposed on each other. Middle and senior school age simultaneously accounts for puberty.

Teenage years

The next stage is a transition between childhood and adulthood. Adolescence lasts between 13 and 19 years. But changes in the psyche and the body can begin much earlier - at the age of 9-12 years.

The most sensitive is the age of 11-13 years. At this time, adolescents are often ashamed of themselves, make ridiculous movements, cover their faces with embarrassment from embarrassment and try to hide their shyness in every possible way.

At this age, a teenager is often disoriented. For the first time he poses the questions of independence, the formation of personality. Teenagers often face difficulties at school, face serious choices in matters of alcohol, drugs or a healthy lifestyle. Great importance is attached to romantic hobbies and participation in teenage communities.

Youth

Adolescence is followed by adolescence, which lasts up to 23 years. This age also accounts for many critical social events. The young man receives a passport, criminal liability sets in, there is the possibility of marriage. At this age, he is faced with the task of choosing a profession. Many boys and girls at this time begin to work. There is an extension of the time frame. The main dimension is the future. Man determines his life path.

Youth

This period covers the completion of adolescence and lasts up to approximately 30 years. At this time, a person begins to establish himself in adulthood, in the profession. One of the most important moments at this time is the choice of a life partner and marriage. Usually, at this stage, the woman’s body is most ready for the birth of a child, so children begin to appear in many families.

Creating a family is crucial for personal development. Largely on how family life develops, the level of a person’s overall development depends on his spiritual growth and development in the profession. Unsuccessful marriage often inhibits professional development, negatively affects relationships with the opposite sex.

Maturity

The full life cycle of a person includes a period of maturity. At this time, development takes on a new vector: now it is more determined not by physical changes, but by mental improvement. A person at this age is able to adapt to new conditions, positively resolve the difficulties and contradictions in his life. Many successfully overcome psychological dependence on other people, gain the ability to take responsibility in many areas of life.

Positive character traits are developing - firmness, reliability, and compassion. In ancient Greece, this age was called "acme", which means "peak". Acmeology is also called a science that studies adulthood. This discipline relates to developmental psychology. The full life cycle of a person’s development consists of different stages, but it is at this age that a person acquires true maturity. The virtue of every psychologically mature person is “work and care”. If the person does not want to work, or calms down in relation to any sphere of life, then degradation occurs.

Old age

It starts at about 61 years old. The main task of man is to achieve the fullness of his "I", confidence in the meaning of his existence. If the main tasks at the previous age stages were not resolved, then old age may be accompanied by a feeling of frustration and fear of death.

The social situation of personal development is associated with a departure from active participation in the life of society - retirement. Gradually, the elderly person moves away from society, the communicative function declines and focuses on his inner world.

Life cycles of a person by date of birth

One can meet the concept of life cycles not only in psychology, but also in numerology. This area is not scientific, although attractive to many. In numerology, there are three main periods:

• The first is the time of formation under the influence of education. The number of the first period is calculated in accordance with the number of the month of birth. January is the number 1, February is the number 2, etc.
• The second is a period of maximum focus on work, the manifestation of creative abilities. The number is calculated by birthday. If it exceeds 12, then the numbers should be added. For example, a person was born on the 18th. Its number in this cycle is 1 + 8 = 9.
• The third is the time of personality development in world society. It is calculated by converting to a unique form or number 11 or 12 years of birth. For example, the year of birth 1995. The number of the period: 1 + 9 + 9 + 5 = 24; 2 + 4 = 6.

The values ​​of the periodic cycles are as follows:

• 1 - a great time for the manifestation of personality, an extremely intense period;
• 2 - time of slow and calm development;
• 3 - stage of creative expression;
• 4 - a period of hard and hard work;
• 5 - time of free creativity, change;
• 6 - at this stage, it is worthwhile to devote time to the family;
• 7 - the period of philosophical rethinking of life;
• 8 - time of financial independence;
• 9 - stage when you should take care of others;
• 10 - a person should show maximum determination;
• 11 - the stage when communication with others is most pleasant and effective.