England Journal of Medicine

Running head: BIOLOGY
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT-EARLY ADOLESCENTS
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Author Note

Running head:” BIOLOGY1
The human lifecycle is explored by lifespan development which incorporates the
stages starting from contraception and ending at death (Hoffnung et al.2016). Various
characteristics that contribute to a lifecycle are progressively analyzed by developmental
psychologists. This essay will talk about the early adolescent developmental stage (age
ranges is approximately between 12 and 18 years) (Hoffnung et al.2016). Additional analysis
and examination of developmental characteristics (identity formation and puberty
development) have been associated with adolescents. Erikson's theory will be used to analyze
the developmental characteristics of puberty through biological lenses. Socioemotional lenses
will also be used to analyze the identity of an individual by the theory stated by James
Marcia. Bronfenbrenner's theory will be used to analyze the process of transition into early
adolescence by analyzing the above-stated domains (puberty and identity).
The transitional stage which incorporates the range of age between 12 to 18 years, is
called the early adolescence stage. During this stage, various biological, psychological and
social factors affect the cognitive development of an individual. Two central developmental
characteristics have been found to be evident during the stage of adolescence- puberty
(biological domain) and socio-economic domain as the identity. One of the most complex
developmental stages during the life span is adolescence (Kipke 1999). While the individual
enters the domain of puberty, various aspects of growth and transitions from childhood to
adolescents take place (Kipke 1999). Biological factors change and consecutively develop,
the height increases, weight varies, sexual factors arise in the body, hormone imbalances
occur and the voice changes based on fertility and gender (Kipke 1999). The biological
characters which develop can begin at various ages within the life span range of adolescence
which varies with genetics, gender and social-physiological factors (Stephanie et al. 2003).
According to various research studies, the most common range of age during early
adolescence is between 9 to 15 in males and 8 to 14 in females (Kar, Choudhury, Singh

Running head:” BIOLOGY2
2015). According to Kipke 1999, females commonly experience a variation in development
and growth before the males. There are various studies regarding the biological domain in
which pubertal maturation is carried out by the brain (neurological interactions). These
interactions link the environmental, social and cultural atmospheric factors (Kar, Choudhury,
Singh 2015).
Puberty is a biological domain that has been empirically explored by various theorists.
According to Erikson, the period of pubescence has been described as the developmental
period of sexual awareness, maturity and rapid growth of the human body (Erikson 1994). He
has also highlighted various changes that hold the transition of puberty from childhood to
adolescence. This process has been described as qualitative and different from those which
are experienced during the past childhood (Erikson 1994). The theory states that “in the life
span of early adolescence one is not only confronted with internal psychological revolution
introducing an establishment of a new body image, however, a psychological crisis" (Erikson
1994). The ability of an individual to cope with physic-bio fluctuations occurring during the
puberty time which affects the future psychological state has been suggested by this theory.
This theory also emphasizes the importance of learning and managing the changes which
occur at the body levels, motor developmental levels (new sex desires) which re different
from biological developmental stages.
The substantial formation of identity has been stated to be a central characteristic that
contributes to the early adolescence development (Hoffnung et al.2016). The formation of
identity has been stated to perpetuate the growth which occurs from an emotional and social
domain. During the early adolescence period, an individual begins to experience
psychological, biological and social developments that enforce a change (Hoffnung et
al.2016). The changes associated with puberty vary from females to males, where the
transitioning is later or earlier than the average age. The positive and negative impact on an