Psychological Analysis: Barrack Obama Analysis

Psychological Analysis: Barrack Obama

Analysis of Obama's behavior and persona as he was trying to seek his "own identity" demonstrates how he went through physiological needs, safety needs, and love, affection and belongingness needs normatively and went through the 'needs for esteem' level with challenge. As an individual who was raised by his mother, Obama embodied his mother through his personal and community work. His mother's "idealistic" persona allowed Obama to develop a psyche and behavior that has allowed him to develop a 'charismatic' persona in his professional life. Growing up, his physiological needs were satisfied with his middle class background, having grown a 'normal' life under the guidance of his mother. This is furthered with Obama's feeling of security because of the confidence emulated by his mother as she raised Obama; this in effect made Obama feel 'satisfied' in the sense that he felt that his mother was enough of a parent already to make him a "whole" person. As this feeling of security and satisfaction increased and remained in him, this then had an effect on Obama's need for love, affection and belonging. With his mother, her ideals, and shared experiences, Obama likened his life to the life of his mother, and it is through this that he felt his mother's love and affection and he belonged to his mother and the people related to his mother whom he interacted with constantly.

However, a critical level which Obama felt challenged is the "needs for esteem." Interestingly, even though Obama was holistically raised by his mother and the first levels of his individuals needs were satisfied, there was also a part of him that is 'incomplete' because of the absence of a father figure in his life. Obama's sense of self-respect is satisfactory because of his mother and the way she had raised him. However, his sense of self-respect is rendered incomplete because of his father. The struggle he experienced demonstrated this and though it did not define his whole being as he is now, it was the primary component in his life that made it a challenge to meet his need for esteem.

2. As the current president of the United States, Obama can be said as a successful person. However, it cannot be said that he is fulfilled and has achieved self-actualization. The absence of a father figure in Obama's life remains a struggle in his life that could determine his successful realization for self-actualization.