Human development is a process that continues throughout our lives.

This lesson will take a look at the

progression of human development from infancy to late adulthood with all the stages in between.

Human Development

Have you ever brought home a new puppy and then watched it grow up? How did your dog change as it
got older? You may have watched your dog grow and develop from a cute and cuddly puppy, to a bit of a
troublemaker, to a confident companion, and finally to a lazy old dog who sleeps all day. Each of these
stages has different physical and emotional characteristics. Just like dogs, humans go through different
developmental stages in their life, as well.

Typical human development is a pretty predictable process--most humans develop at similar rates. This
pattern of development allows us to make generalizations about different stages, such as infancy,
childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Let's take a closer look at each stage.

Infancy

Infancy, typically the first year of life, is the first important stage of human development. Many physical
milestones occur during this stage as an infant gains control over its body. However, infants must rely on
others to meet most of their needs. They learn to trust other people as needs are met. They need to feel
this security in order to properly develop both physically and emotionally.

Like your puppy, an infant needs to be loved and nurtured. As you met the needs of your puppy, he/she
learned to trust and bond with you while he/she also developed physically.

Childhood

The next stage of human development is childhood, during which children start to explore and develop a
sense of independence. Eventually, children learn to make their own decisions and they discover that
their actions have consequences. As they learn and grow, they develop a sense of self. Children need to
be nurtured so that they develop self-confidence instead self-esteem issues. Achieving a healthy level of
self-confidence helps children stay motivated to achieve. A child also needs guidance as they begin to
test out new skills and gain confidence in their decision-making.

Do you remember when your puppy got big enough to start getting into things? You may have had to
make sure to put your shoes up or your dog would chew them as he/she was learning what he/she
should and shouldn't do.
Adolescence

During childhood, children begin to develop a sense of self and independence, and this process
continues in the next stage of human development. During adolescence, young men and women are
primarily concerned with finding their identity and expressing who they are in the world. Puberty causes
many physical changes to take place, and adolescents must adapt to their changing bodies. All of these
changes can make adolescence a confusing and stressful period. As adolescents try to find their place,
they may experiment with different roles and make attempts to separate from authority figures. They
are getting used to their bodies and trying to find out where they belong. They may try out different
hairstyles and hobbies in an attempt to create an image of themselves they're comfortable with.

Eventually, your puppy wasn't really a puppy anymore - he/she was growing into a dog. He/she probably
became a bit rebellious, too, and tested your authority from time to time. As you set firm and consistent
rules, your puppy became comfortable with his/her personality and place in your home. Your overgrown
puppy is very much like an adolescent.

Adulthood

Adulthood brings on even more new challenges and major decisions about school, career, and home life.
Early adulthood involves few physical changes, but it's a time of important emotional development, as
young adults decide where they want to live, who they want to live with, and what type of work they
want to do.