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The Developmental Stages according to Robert Havighurst

Overall Idea Certain task need to be mastered at certain times of ages in


order to mature successfully. The driving forces behind these tasks are the
persons physical growth, social pressures upon him or her as well as his or
her inner pressures.
Developmental Tasks of Infancy and Early Childhood (ages birth to 6)

Learning to walk
Learning to take solid foods
Learning to talk
Learning to control the elimination of body wastes
Learning sex differences and sexual modesty
Forming concepts and learning language to describe social and
physical reality
Getting ready to read

Developmental Tasks of Middle Childhood (ages 6-12)

Learning physical skills necessary for ordinary games


Building wholesome attitudes toward oneself as a growing organism
Learning to get along with age-mates
Learning an appropriate masculine or feminine social role
Developing fundamental skills in reading, writing, and calculating
Developing concepts necessary for everyday living
Developing conscience, morality, and a scale of values
Achieving personal independence
Developing attitudes toward social groups and institutions

Developmental Tasks of Adolescence (ages 12-18)


Achieving new and more mature relations with age-mates of both
sexes
Achieving a masculine or feminine social role
Accepting ones physique and using the body effectively
Achieving emotional independence of parents and other adults
Preparing for marriage and family life
Preparing for an economic career
Acquiring a set of values and an ethical system as a guide to behavior;
developing an ideology
Desiring and achieving socially responsible behavior
Developmental Tasks of Early Adulthood

Selecting a mate
Achieving a masculine or feminine social role
Learning to live with a marriage partner
Starting a family
Rearing children
Managing a home
Getting started in an occupation
Taking on civic responsibility
Finding a congenial social group

Developmental Tasks of Middle Age

Assisting teen-age children to become responsible and happy adults


Achieving adult social and civic responsibility
Reaching and maintaining satisfactory performance in ones
occupational career
Developing adult leisure-time activities
Relating oneself to ones spouse as a person
To accept and adjust to the physiological changes of middle age
Adjusting to aging parents

Developmental Tasks of Later Maturity

Adjusting to decreasing physical strength and health


Adjustment to retirement and reduced income
Adjusting to death of a spouse
Establishing an explicit affiliation with ones age group
Adopting and adapting social roles in a flexible way
Establishing satisfactory physical living arrangements

http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/EDF3214%20Topic%20Outline/Robert
%20Havighurst.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_J._Havighurst

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