DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES

IN MIDDLE AND LATE

ADOLESCENCE
Lasam, Jay
Fermin, Faye
Junio, Glysa
Ugan, Mhar
 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
– It focuses on human growth and changes across the
lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social,
intellectual, perceptual, personality, and emotional
growth.
– The study of human developmental stages is essential
to understanding how humans learn, mature, and
adapt.
– Throughout their lives, humans go through various
stages in development.
 During adolescence, young people experience many
changes as their transition from childhood into young
adulthood. These changes include physical, behavioral,
cognitive, and emotional-social development. Researchers
suggest adolescence undergo three primary developmental
stages of adolescence and young adulthood – early
adolescence, middle adolescence, and late adolescence or
young adulthood.
STAGES OF ADOLESCENT
DEVELOPMENT
EARLY ADOLESCENCE (Ages 10-14)
 Early adolescence occurs between ages 10-14. During this developmental period,
adolescents experience the beginning stages of puberty. Both sexes experience
significant physical growth and increased sexual interest. Cognitively, adolescents
in this stage have a limited capacity for abstract thought but intellectual interests
expand and become more important. Although adolescents in this stage have
limited interest in the future, they develop deeper moral thinking during the early
adolescence stage.
 Both large and small muscles are well-developed
 Developed complex motor skills
 From independent activities to same sex group activities
MIDDLE ADOLESCENCE (Ages 15-17)
 During the middle adolescence stage, puberty is completed for males and females.
Physical growth slows for female but continues for males. Adolescents in this stage
continue to experience growing capacity for abstract thought. During this stage,
adolescents begin to set long-term goals and become interested in the meaning of
life and moral reasoning. Adolescents in this stage of development experience
numerous social and emotional changes including self- involvement and an
increased drive for independence.
 Traumatic life stage for child and parent
 Puberty occurs
 Extremely concerned with appearance
 Trying to establish self- identity
 Confrontations with authority
LATE ADOLESCENCE / YOUNG
ADULTHOOD (Ages 18-21)
 Adolescents in the late adolescence/ young adulthood phase typically experience
fewer physical developments and more cognitive developments. Adolescents gain
the ability to think about ideas rationally, delay gratification, plan for the future,
and gain a firm sense of identity. During this last phase of adolescent
development, young people also experience increased emotional stability and
independence.
 Emotional maturation continues to develop
 Usually learned to accept responsibility for actions and accept criticism
 Usually knows how to profit from errors
 Socially progress
HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE 3
STAGES OF ADOLESCENCE
1. Early Adolescence (10-14)
 Physical Development. At this stage, children are entering puberty. Hair growth,
body odor, and menstruation begin to happen. For girls, their breasts start to
develop. Boys often develop lower voices.
 Intellectual Development. When children enter adolescence, they’re generally
still very focused on the present and cannot consider the long-term
consequences of what they do or say.
 Emotional Development. Due to the many physical changes that they go
through at this stage, it can be quite the emotional rollercoaster. Low self-
esteem, mood swings, aggression, and even depression are common.
 Social Development. While most social interaction likely happened with family
and close friends before this stage, kids generally start to expand their social
interactions to groups of peers outside the “inner circle” dynamic at this point.
2. Middle Adolescence (15-17)
 Physical Development. At this point, most children reach their adult height. Males
often begin to focus on exercising and grooming. Females at this stage tend to be
very aware of their physical appearance, too.
 Intellectual Development. As children move to this stage, they generally develop
the ability to think through and solve complex problems for the first time. They
also become more willing and able to think about the future and what it holds for
them.
 Emotional Development. This can be a weird emotional time as they’ll often be
striving for independence while at the same time craving the security provided by
you (the parents) and their home.
 Social Development. At this point, there’s typically a focus on finding peer groups
and friends that they can confide in. Also, this is generally the first time they think
about forming romantic relationships.
3. Late Adolescence (18-21)
 Physical Development. While much of their physical development will be over at this
point, it’s often the case that they become more interested in fitness and maintaining a
strong and attractive physical appearance.
 Intellectual Development. By this stage, they’re often able to see the “bigger picture” and
develop a better understanding of how their choices and actions affect their long-term
future. It’s also often the case that they begin to develop “street smarts” at this stage.
 Emotional Development. At this point, they’ll generally begin to develop more confidence
in themselves as their social circles expand and romantic relationships become front-of-
mind. This can also be a very stressful time, as it’s often the first time they’re forced to
think about their career choice.
 Social Development. As they near the end of adolescence and begin to develop more
confidence, it’s often the case that their social circles begin to expand beyond the “cliques”
that were common during their middle adolescence.