The phases, and social roles, of the modern American life cycle can be summarized as follows: Childhood (pueritia, ages 0-20); social role: growth (receiving nurture, acquiring values) Young Adulthood (iuventus, ages 21-41); social role: vitality (serving institutions, testing values) Midlife (virilitas, ages 42-62); social role: power (managing institutions, applying values) Elderhood (senectus, ages 63-83); social role: leadership (leading institutions, transferring values) Late Elderhood (ages 84+); social role: dependence (receiving comfort from institutions, remembering values)
