The concept of age in psychology: definition, periods, features

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

The concepts of psychological age and developmental psychology are closely interrelated. Each age category has its own characteristics, and people can look and behave differently depending on many different factors.

Concept

The concept of age in psychology (briefly speaking) differs significantly from the chronological order, which originates from the day we were born. Consider the very concept of age.

Age is a stage of growth and individual development of a person. There are two types of it - chronological and psychological. They are expressed in time units, separating the moment of the object's birth to its psychological maturity.

The concept of age in developmental psychology is determined on the basis of the stage of ontogenetic development, which is based on the patterns of organism formation, living conditions, upbringing and training.

Initially, psychological age was considered as mental age thanks to the work of French scientists. This was determinedindicator based on a special study that included test items. Later it was proposed to consider the ratio of mental to chronological age.

Domestic psychology is based on the works of L. S. Vygotsky, who raises the question of the problems of cultural age. That is, two people who have the same age according to passport data and approximately the same category of intellectual development may differ in cultural age.

Periods

So, we continue to discuss the concept of age in psychology. Age and development require gradation into life stages. Let's consider this concept on the basis of four approaches applied to the assessment of lived years.

1. Biological age. Based on the formation of the human body.
2. Psychological. Based on cultural behavior.
3. Social age. Displays the degree of acceptance of public roles and tasks, as well as their functions.
4. Physical. Evaluated solely by the amount of time lived.

According to indicators of biological age, the life path is divided into the following stages:

1. Children under 16.
2. Youth - people between the ages of 16 and 21.
3. Maturity - up to 60 years.
4. Old age begins at age 60.

Here we examined the periods and the concept of age in psychology. What factors influence psychological age?

Main structural components of age

Biological age includes changes that occur outside: gray hair, pigmentation, wrinkles, which are perfectly visible in the mirror (we cannot see the state of internal organs). And also about the biological age can be judged by factors such as fatigue, weakness and constant illness. Biological aging is characteristic not only of the elderly, but also of the young.

So, the concept of age in psychology and the main structural components of age:

1. Lifestyle (physical activity, self-care, bad habits, stress, etc.) make up 50%.
2. The environmental situation around you is about 20%.
3. Genetic features - about 20%.
4. Quality and standard of living is about 10%.

It can be seen that people who live in favorable conditions look much better than their peers in adulthood. It is also important to note that the psychological mood of a person plays a decisive role in slowing down the biological clock. There must be a clear belief that the fight against aging requires money and time.

According to the doctor of psychological sciences S. Krauss, there are no special changes in the body at the age of thirty or forty. But a person tends to get upset, realizing such an unattractive figure for himself. Based on this, people often consider themselves old, and at the same time they change their attitude to life. Most begin to limit themselves in many ways, referring to age. After that, the process itself startspsychological aging, people stop playing sports and begin to devote less time to their appearance. Women, in pursuit of beauty, resort to procedures that are inappropriate for their age. For this reason, the biological aging process is accelerating.

According to most scientists, the biological age of a person depends on 200 indicators. A person who does not look for signs of premature aging is full of strength and energy, and his appearance is practically not affected by serious changes.

Methods of developmental psychology

The concept of age in developmental psychology has been briefly and generally considered. As for the methods, the main ones are:

1. Method of cross sections. Based on the study of a large number of people of different ages. The purpose of the study is to obtain comparative data on the psychological nuances and characteristics of each age category.
2. Longitudinal study method. This study is a long-term study of the same subjects people. The purpose of the study is to track age-related changes and the psyche.

Qualitative identification of peculiar stages of mental development and determination of age limits is a very difficult task, since psychological age differs significantly from the actual number of years lived.

Features of the psychology of childhood

The concept of psychological age in modern developmental psychology confirms the fact that the modelbehavior in later life is laid down almost from the very period of conception.

What is the role of childhood in mental development? The concept of age in the psychology of children will be considered in more detail.

Age child psychology places maximum emphasis on positive things. Researchers of our time believe that the baby begins to get acquainted with the world even before his birth. Therefore, responsibilities are distributed in such a way that kindergarten teachers are busy completing the primary education of children. And for everything else, and especially for the basics of this process, only the parents of the child are responsible.

There is an opinion that children under three years old tend to only absorb the information received. And upon reaching this age period, they are able to make their first attempts to influence the world around them. It is this period that is considered the beginning of the formation of rules of conduct, which acquire great depth. Children are able to comprehend incoming signals. It is at the age of five that children begin to develop feelings of fear. And they consciously become interested in the causes of various events that occur around them or in the world.

After a child becomes a schoolboy, he faces another difficult change - new landmarks. The naive perception of the surrounding world continues to be preserved, but the understanding of the ongoing interactions is already well developed. It is during this period that children tend to realize that they are becoming an individual. Along with this, there is an irresistible desireexpress my "I". It is very important for parents in such a period of personality development to support their child, but at the same time direct some influence on him.

Youth

What is the concept of age in developmental psychology during adolescence? Personal development reaches its peak during this period. People of this age group tend to prove their rightness and independence, so conflicts often arise. The most difficult moment of this period is that people can already make independent and balanced decisions, but they, more than ever, need the care of relatives and friends, as well as their right guiding influence.

The desire to get the most out of your life right now provokes fatalistic moods. Psychologists advise during this period of time to build a special line of behavior in such a way that a person does not feel or is not aware of the prohibitions and restrictions on personal freedom, but also calmly accepts advice.

Features of adolescence

The concept of age in modern psychology in relation to adolescents does not set clear boundaries, as they are designated based on the individual characteristics of a person. Along with the concept of adolescence, the concept of the so-called transitional period is often used. In this period, a person goes through the greatest path of personal development, which is associated with internal conflicts. And through external breakdowns, a sense of irritation, a teenager gains a sense of personality.

In adolescenceage, the foundations of conscious behavior are laid, a general orientation in moral ideas and social attitudes is formed.

It is the features of the development of cognitive abilities that directly affect academic performance and behavior in learning. And the success of the educational process depends on motivation. But in real life, you can see that schoolchildren are not drawn to new knowledge, but on the contrary, they try their best to counteract the learning process.

Leading positions in the interests of young people are occupied by social activities and intimate and personal communication with peers. It is during this period that awareness of learning is characteristic, as motives associated with ideal professional intentions appear. Therefore, learning rather acquires personal meaning.

Actively developing such operations as analysis, generalization and classification. Adult logic of thinking is acquired.

The memory in the intellectual component is activated. But not meaning is used, but only mechanical memorization. It is common for a teenager to catch errors in the speech of teachers, parents and older people. At this stage, the authority of a native speaker becomes very important. And personal training and the correct perception of the language and its meanings individualizes the self-knowledge of a person in adolescence.

It is very important for teenagers to communicate with their peers. Psychology in the concept of age (we discussed the types of age above) makes a special emphasis on this issue. It is in communication that a teenager seeks to find his place, and the lack of such an opportunitycan lead to social maladaptation and possible offenses. During this period, appreciation from friends is valued much higher than from parents or teachers. The teenager falls under the influence of the group and its values. He tends to worry when his popularity among his peers is in jeopardy.

Young people tend to rely on the opinions of others, and not make decisions on their own. The desire to live by your own rules and follow your ideal picture of the world often provokes conflicts between a teenager and his parents. Therefore, it is important to understand that negativity, aggression and resentment are an emotional reaction of a teenager to their own insecurities.

The teenage period is very important, since it is during this period that the foundations of a person's future life are laid. The assertion of one's own independence, the formation of personality and the development of plans for the future - all this is formed in this age category.

Mature age

The concept of age in modern psychology highlights maturity as the best of periods. It is at this time that the flowering of vitality occurs. But time is not without several crises.

During adulthood, a person has a huge number of opportunities. He tends to influence the people around him and at the same time does not stop in his development.

This period is characterized by the presence of forces that can be used in the spiritual, creative and intellectual fields. And besides this, it is human natureunderstand the significance of what is happening, and therefore there is a real interest in one's own improvement.

The most positive aspects that are included in the concept of age in developmental psychology are opportunities based on the transfer of personal experience and knowledge to the younger generation. Due to this process, a person is fully aware of his significance and usefulness in the vast world.

If life in this age period is not going well, then a time of crisis comes, filled with stagnation, a feeling of devastation and constant immersion in thinking about problems.

In addition to all of the above, maturity has a sense of permanence and stability. Being in this state for a long time, a person begins to think about the correctness of the choice made in this or that issue or situation, as well as the fullness of the realization of one's own potential.

Old age

The definition of age and developmental psychology includes old age. Unfortunately, old age brings with it deterioration in he alth, a decrease in the circle of people for communication and retirement. And the most unpleasant thing is that along with all this, the development of a sense of uselessness and uselessness can come. This condition is connected with the fact that a person has a lot of free time, followed by apathy, which is accompanied by a reluctance to learn something new and develop further.

People of this age group need the help of relatives and friends. It is necessary to give the elderly a chance to feelfit.

After sixty years, the attitude to their appearance changes. Elderly people are more focused on inner harmony and he alth. It is during this period that it is common to realize the full value of life, along with this, calmness and prudence appear. Often, relatives may notice that the character of an elderly relative has changed for the worse, this is due to the weakening of control over character traits that the person previously hid.

Crisis in developmental psychology

At each stage of development, a person has to overcome internal conflicts and age-related crises. Everyone faces such difficulties, but some people experience these periods especially difficult. Age psychology distinguishes 3, 7, 13, 17, 30 and 40 years.

Children around the age of 3 tend to go through the "I myself" stage. Increasingly, the baby refuses the help of adults, arguing that he can perform this action on his own. Children during this period become very capricious and stubborn, may not respond to the requests of their parents. This is due to the fact that now there is an active process of increasing cognitive interest and searching for opportunities to influence others. Often children at this age try to show their importance and do not let their parents out of the house, forbid them to touch their toys, etc.

The age of 7 years is the time to enter school. The child begins to understand social roles and tries to try on some of them. There is an active interest in everything new andSometimes it may seem to the child that some very important information is being hidden from him. Children at this age begin to learn self-control to correctly express their own opinions and restrain violent emotions.

At the age of 13, a teenager is not enough with words alone and he begins to demand proof. There is an interest in art, mainly music is preferred. A teenager's desire to be alone can be noticed, often associated with dissatisfaction or anxiety.

17 years of age is due to a serious transition into adulthood. This stage is connected with the final choice of the sphere of further activity. Some of the excitement of adolescence still remains. But in general, a person is ready to try his hand and find evidence that he is already an accomplished person.

The crisis of 30 years is connected with the realization of the passed road. There are doubts about the correctness of the choice. There are thoughts of missed opportunities. Often there is a change of priorities. And if there is an inability to improve one's situation, then the person becomes depressed.

The crisis of 40 years is a turning point in everyone's life. The period is especially acute if problems in 30 years have not been resolved. Often during this period, career and family problems are intertwined, which only exacerbates the situation.