Developmental psychology

Developmental Milestone Timeline

  • Birth

    Birth
    The beginning
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    Sensorimotor Stage

    Piaget's first developmental stage. In this stage the infant begins to take in their surroundings through sensory and motor actions. Infants in this stage do not understand object permanence.
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    Preconventional Morality (Stage 1)

    This is Kohlberg's first stage of moral development. Children in this stage are typically ages 9 and younger. This stage is recognized by extreme self interest. Children in this stage typically only follow rules to avoid punishment.
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    Trust vs. Mistrust

    Erikson's first stage of psychosocial development. A child is in this stage from birth to age one. The child learns whether to trust someone or not to based on if their needs for food, etc. are met.
  • Raised Head (2 Months)

    Raised Head (2 Months)
    2 Months Old. Raised head to 45 degrees.
  • Rolled Over (2.8 Months)

    Rolled Over (2.8 Months)
    2.8 Months Old
  • Sat Up With Support (4 Months)

    Sat Up With Support (4 Months)
    4 Months Old
  • Sat Up Without Support (5.5 Months)

    Sat Up Without Support  (5.5 Months)
    5.5 Months Old
  • Pulled Up To A Standing Position (7.6 Months)

    Pulled Up To A Standing Position (7.6 Months)
    7.6 Months Old
  • Stranger Anxiety Developed (8 Months)

    Stranger Anxiety Developed (8 Months)
    Stranger anxiety is typically developed at around 8 months. This is when infants typically develop attatchments to familiar faces.
  • Attatchments Formed (8 Months)

    Attatchments Formed (8 Months)
    At around 8 months infants begin to form attatchments. These can either be secure or insecure. Children that have secure attatchments typically use a parent as a secure base from which they explore their environment. They will become upset when they leave and are happy when they return. Children that have insecure attatchments are either ambivilent, tend not to use parent as a secure base and are angry when they leave and angry when they return, or avoidant, do not respond.
  • Walked While Holding On To Furniture (9.2 Months)

    Walked While Holding On To Furniture (9.2 Months)
    9.2 Months Old
  • Crawled (10 Months)

    Crawled (10 Months)
    10 Months Old
  • Stood Alone

    Stood Alone
    11.5 Months Old
  • Temperment

    Temperment
    By the age of 1 most infants have begun to display their temperment. 40% are easy infants meaning they are adaptable to new situations and positive in their mood. 10 % are diffiuclt infants meaning they are intense in their reactions, not very adaptable to situations, and have a slightly negative mood. 15 % are slow to warm up meaning they initally withdraw when they are approached but eventually adapt. 35% are average meaning they do no fit into any of the other categories.
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    Autonomy v. Shame and Doubt

    This is Erikson's second stage of psychosocial development.Children in this stage begin to realize that they can direct their own behavior.
  • Walked (12.1 Months)

    Walked (12.1 Months)
    12.1 Months Old
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    Preoperational Stage

    Piaget's second stage of development. Children in this stage experience egocentricsm. They also lack conservation, which is not due to intellegence but development.
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    Initiative v. Guilt

    Erikson's third stage of psychosocial development. During this stage children are typically 3 to 5 years old. Children begin to develop their imagination and ability to share with others.
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    Industry v. Inferiority

    Erikson's fourth stage of psychosocial development. Children in this stage are typically ages 5 to 12. During this stage children develop educational/academic skills and learn to work with a group/team.
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    Concrete Operational Stage

    Piaget's third developmental stage. Children in this stage can fully grasp conversation, mathmatical transformations, and conservation.
  • Puberty (Girls-11 Years)

    Puberty (Girls-11 Years)
    Girls typically begin puberty around 11 years old. They experience a surge of hormones that create physical changes. The primary sex characteristics that develop are the reproductive organs. The secondary sex characteristics that develop are the breasts, hips, appearence of armpit hair, a growth spurt, and eventually the first menstration cycle.
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    Formal Operational Stage

    Piaget's fourth and final developmental stage. In this stage children begin to learn abstract reasoning and are able to understand hypothetical propositions.
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    Conventional Morality Stage

    This stage is typically experienced by adolecsents and young adults. In this stage people begin to care for others and follow the rules set forth by parents or society.
  • First Menarche (Girls-12.5 Years)

    First Menarche (Girls-12.5 Years)
    The average girl is 12 1/2 years old during her first menarche.
  • Puberty (Boys-13 Years)

    Puberty (Boys-13 Years)
    Boys typically begin to experience puberty at 13 years old. They experience a surge of hormones which result in physical changes. The primary sex characteristics that develop are the reproductive organs and the external genitilia. The seconday sex characteristics that develop are the growth of facial hair, the deepening of the voice, the broadening of the chest and shoulders, a growth spurt, and eventually the first spermarche.
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    Identity vs. Role Confusion

    Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development. During this stage children are typically ages 13-18. In this stage a child works to find their identity and who they truly are.
  • First Spermarche (Boys-14 Years)

    First Spermarche (Boys-14 Years)
    The average boy is 14 years old during his first spermarche.
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    Early Adulthood

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    Intimacy vs. Isolation

    Erikson's sixth stage of psychosocial development. This stage is typically experienced during a persons twenties to their early fourties. In this stage people are trying to form close committed relationships with partners and friends.
  • First Child (26 Years)

    First Child (26 Years)
    The average age in the United States to have the first child is 26 years old.
  • Marriage (Women-27 Years)

    Marriage (Women-27 Years)
    The average age in the United States for women to get married at is 27 years old. Even though the average age to have a child is 26.
  • Marriage (Men-29 Years)

    Marriage (Men-29 Years)
    The average age in the United States for men to get married at is 29 years old. Even though the average age to have a child is 26.
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    Middle Adulthood

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    Generativity vs. Stagnation

    Erikson's seventh stage of psychosocial development. People typically experience this stage during their mid fourties to their sixties. During this stage people typically question the accomplishments they have made thus far in life. They are challenged to be creative, productive, and give back to the next generation.
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    Postconventional Morality Stage

    This is Kohlberg's third and final stage of moral development. Kohlberg stated that not all people will experience this stage of development. In this stage people develop their own moral code they may go against society's beliefs.
  • Midlife Transition (42 Years)

    Midlife Transition (42 Years)
    A midlife transistion is a normal stage of life experienced by people. The average age for this to occur is 42 years old. During this time one may experience discontent, restlessness, decreased or increased sexual drive, etc. This is often caused by a questioning of accomplishments in one's live thus far.
  • Menopause (Women-51 Years)

    Menopause (Women-51 Years)
    The average age that women in the United States begin menopause is 51. Menopause ends the menstrual cycle and can also cause some emotional changes. If a woman views this stage of life as an end to part of her life she might be upset. However, if she views it as liberation and a new begining she will be content.
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    Ego Integrity vs. Despair

    Erikson's eighth and final stage of psychosocial development. This stage is experienced during ones late sixties and on. People in this stage strive to reach wisdom, tranquility, wholeness, and acceptance.
  • Dementia And Alzheimers

    Dementia And Alzheimers
    (Late Adult) Demensia is mental erosion that causes a decline in mental ability. Demetia is not a specific disease, it is a category. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Alzhiermer's disease is a form of dementia that causes memory loss, and problems/changes in thinking and behavior. The majority of people with Alzheimer's are age 65 and older but Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease which worsens over time.
  • Physical Changes

    Physical Changes
    (Middle and late adulthood) Most physical abilities peak by the mid twenties. Some of the physical changes experienced during middle adulthood are decreased fertility and menopause. Some physical changes experienced in late adulthood are decreased strength and changes in sexual drive.
  • Changes In Sensory Abilities

    Changes In Sensory Abilities
    (Middle and late adulthood) Our sensory abilities begin to decline during early adulthood. However, we typically do not notice until later on in life. Some of the changes in sensory abilities are declines in vision, reaction time, muscle strength, sense of smell, hearing, and problems with distance perception.
  • Cognitive Changes

    Cognitive Changes
    (Middle adult and late adult) Many people believe that cognative abilities decline during middle and late adulthood. However, although our brains do decline as we age,one's cognative abilities are often at their best during this time frame. For example adults of this age excel in inductive reasoning, verbal memory, and vocabulary. However, there are some declines during this time. For example, many adults are distracted easier, have slower processing speeds, and grow more forgetful.
  • Crystallized vs. Fluid Intelligence

    Crystallized vs. Fluid Intelligence
    (Middle and late adult) Crystallized intelligence is one's accumulation of knowledge and verbal skll. This intelligence increases with age. Fluid intelligence is one's ability to reason and think abstractly. This form of intelligence decreases during late adulthood.
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    Late Adulthood

  • Death (Men-76 Years)

    Death (Men-76 Years)
    The average life expectancy in the United States for men is 76 years.
  • Death (Women-81 Years)

    Death (Women-81 Years)
    The average life expectancy in the United States for women is 81 years.