Final answer:
Adolescence is the developmental stage that encompasses puberty through adulthood, marked by physical, cognitive, and social changes. It starts with puberty and ends in the late teenage years, leading into the adult stages of early, middle, and old age with their own sets of developmental changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adolescence: The Stage of Development from Puberty to Adulthood
The stage of development that encompasses puberty through adulthood is Adolescence. Infancy is the first year after birth and is marked by rapid growth. Early childhood follows, during which cognitive and physical milestones are met, such as learning to speak and basic motor skills. Adolescence is the last stage before reaching adulthood, starting with puberty—which includes the onset of sexual maturation and rapid physical growth—and extending until the late teenage years. In addition to physical changes, adolescence involves significant cognitive, emotional, and social changes as individuals develop a deeper sense of personal identity and experience shifts in relationships.
Adulthood is divided into three stages: early, middle, and old age. These stages encompass the longest period of human life and include various physical, cognitive, and social changes. While the completion of physical growth typically signals the beginning of adulthood, the developmental changes and challenges of this stage are numerous and diverse over the decades.