Stages of Behavioral Development

Human behavior begins developing at birth and continues to develop throughout life. The typical human has successive phases of growth during life, and those phases consist of infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and late adulthood. During each of these phases a person's behavior is shaped and molded based on their experiences and also their cognitive abilities.

Infancy/Toddlers

• In infancy, humans are beginning to experience life through their different senses. Infants learn that they receive certain things in response to certain behaviors; for instance, crying when they are hungry. An infant's behavior relies largely on instinct and survival and the use body language to help get what she needs. As toddlers, humans are starting to branch out on their own, but are still very reliant on the care and nurture of their caregivers. Toddlers begin acting more impulsively and show more determination as they get older.

Childhood

• Children are beginning to use their environments and social settings to learn. They start to branch away from parents as they enter school age and start to learn behaviors from outside of the home, as well as from within. During this stage children are expressing more independence and are creating social bonds that could last a lifetime. Also during this phase, children begin to understand the future and how to prepare for the future and understand their role in the world. They are also better able to express and understand feelings and emotions.

Adolescence

• Adolescence is the time that people really start to develop their own identities and are most focused on social interactions. During this phase, much emphasis is placed on friendships and peer interaction. As puberty begins moods can change rapidly and a person's behavior may become more erratic. It is common for boys and girls to show less affection toward their caregivers and can go back and forth between high and low expectations.

Adulthood

• Typically as people enter adulthood they begin focusing on intimate relationships and seek out their mate. There is also a stronger emphasis on career and making money, which can cause stress and depression in some adults. Some adults may find themselves overextended at this period in their lives, both financially and emotionally. There is a strong sense of searching for happiness and it can be difficult to find a balance between family life and work life.

Late Adulthood

• In this stage of development, a person may feel contentment and satisfaction in his achievements. On the contrary, some people become bitter and can fall into despair. A person in late adulthood may feel that he is full of wisdom. This is the stage during which people come to terms with death and can either turn inward or may reach out to those around them for support. There can also be serious cognitive changes, such as intellectual decline and dementia.