Human development is marked by different stages and milestones over the lifespan. It is expressed over three domains: physical, cognitive and socio/emotional. While human physical and cognitive development is universal, socio/emotional definitions and development vary from culture to culture. The various stages of human development include the prenatal period, infancy, toddler hood, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood and late adulthood. Each stage is marked by milestones in physical, cognitive, and socio/emotional development. The theorist that investigated about middle adulthood was Erik Erickson. Erikson observed that middle-age is when we tend to be occupied with creative and meaningful work and with issues surrounding our family. Also, middle adulthood is when we can expect to "be in charge," the role we've longer envied. The significant task is to perpetuate culture and transmit values of the culture through the family and working to establish a stable environment. Strength comes through care of others and production of something that contributes to the betterment of society, which Erikson calls generativity, so when individual in this stage they often fear inactivity and meaninglessness. As children leave home, or relationships or goals change, they may be faced with major life changes—the mid-life crisis—and struggle with finding new meanings and purposes. If adults do not n get through this stage successfully, they become self-absorbed and stagnate.
The main features of midlife refer to the transformation and progress on physical, cognitive/intellect and social domains. Changes are also evident on expertise and personality. Physical change is the most gradual. Such changes include, atrophy of muscles, slower metabolism, skin elasticity and dryness, wrinkles, slow growth of nail and hair and baldness. These changes also facilitate the decrease in height, increase in weight and decrease