Understand the difference between life stage and life cycle

The finite nature of human existence requires that life consist of a life cycle beginning at birth and ending at death. This cyclical path affects everyone. During the life cycle, people go through several stages of psychological development called life stages. Often when a person does not transition properly through a stage of life, emotional deficits accumulate, exacerbating maladaptive behaviors and thought patterns. By addressing issues that arise from a particular life stage, life cycle psychologists work to help people overcome deficiencies so that they can successfully thrive during the remaining stages of their physical life cycle.

The study of the full scope of life is normally based on two basic assumptions:

(1) that every human being shares in common a series of developmental steps or life stages through which they progress and

(2) that each stage builds on the successes or failures of the previous one.

From childhood through adolescence and into young, middle, and late adulthood, the human experience is generally similar, although the exact age at which each person reaches each stage of life is not always the same.

Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development is fundamental to most studies of the emotional stages that occur during human physical life.

Each stage, according to Erkison, has its own challenges that each person must master as follows:

– Childhood (Trust)

– Small child (Autonomy)

– Preschool (Action and Ambition)

– Childhood (Industry)

– Adolescence (Identity)

– Early Adulthood (Intimacy)

– Middle Adulthood (Generativity)

– Late Adulthood (Integrity)

According to Erikson, each season develops a particular virtue, one of the many qualities that are essential to positively complete the cycle of life. Failure to master the challenges at each step creates negative results in the form of maladaptive or misbehavior. Mastering development at each stage of life ensures a balanced and healthy life.

Erikson associated steps in his life theory of psychosocial development with Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychosexual development to expound on Freud’s work.

Perhaps the most important lesson learned in considering the psychology of the life cycle is how important the early stages of life are in determining one’s state at death, since each season builds on the previous one while alive.

In differentiating between the two terms in question, it is important to recognize that a life stage speaks of emotional development while life cycle refers to physical existence (from birth to death) spanning a series of predictable life stages. . Those who adapt well to each development challenge have the best chance of being satisfied with their life cycle when it ends with death.