Barack Hussein Obama

Barack Hussein Obama was born a biracial child to a Kenyan father and white mother. Obama was denied a relationship with his father when his parents divorced and his father moved away when Obama was only two years old. Barack moved to Indonesia with his mother when she remarried. He later moved back to Hawaii to live with his grandparents by the age of ten. Obama excelled in school and basketball throughout elementary and high school. He graduated with honors from Columbia University with a degree in political science. He pursued a law career by attending Harvard University Law School where he met his wife Michelle Obama. He became state senate in 1996 and won U.S. Senate in 2004. In 2008 Barack Obama was elected 44th President of the United States.

Erik Erikson's theory maintained that development occurred throughout the life span and that it focused on psychosocial stages rather than psychosexual stages (Perry & Potter, 2009). His theory consists of eight stages. Trust vs. Mistrust, age birth to one year is the first stage. During this stage a consistent caregiver who is available is needed to meet his needs giving the infant a sense of trust. At this stage Obama had his mother and father caring for his needs enabling him to progress through this stage with ease. Autonomy vs. Sense of shame (1 to 3), this new found independence is the result of maturation and imitation (Perry & Potter, 2009). During this stage Barack notice the absent of his father but that did not hinder his ability to master this stage. Initiative vs. Guilt (3 to 6) during this stage conflicts often occur between the child's desire to explore and the limits placed on his behavior (Perry & Potter, 2009). When Obama was three his mother remarried and moved to Indonesia later moving back with his grandparents because of something to do with his skin color. Obama began to have questions about his skin color at time and developed a little guilt. Industry vs. Inferiority (6 to 11), children at this age need to be able to experience real achievement to develop a sense of competency (Perry & Potter, 2009). Obama excelled in school and master this level with ease. Identity vs. Confusion (puberty) is the marked preoccupation with appearance and body image. This stage is which identity development begins with the goal of achieving some perspective or direction answers the question "Who am I?" (Perry & Potter, 2009). As a teenager Barack started to play basketball and gained friendship through the socialization of the sport; furthermore helping him to master this stage of life. Intimacy vs. Isolation (young adult) is when the person is searching for meaningful relationships. Barack started law school and met his wife to be Michelle at Harvard thus completing this stage of life successfully. Generativity vs Self absorption and Stagnation (middle age) at this the ability to expand one's personal and social involvement is critical and