For basics, male members are represented by a square symbol, and a circle is used for female members. Genogram Symbols can analyze the nature of the family, behavior, emotional, and social relationships.Īre graphic representations of a specific member of the family or relationship. Compared to a traditional family chart, as it may seem like one, this goes beyond listing the members with lines. It may be adapted to the family or the environment that an individual is from. A mere mannerism or reaction can be well-traced through a genogram. This tool is an excellent guide to analyzing the complexity of a single line. This Genogram Symbols Sheet is helpful to understand better the symbols for each family member or relationship. A genogram is a well-known tool designed to determine or help highlight the patterns in family relationships. These relationship characteristics give you, the family of origin explorer, a quick way of seeing relational habits in your family, as well as any relational generational patterns.Family lines directly connect to each member even a superficial relationship may spring a specific influence on another member. Relational dynamics are noted on your genogram with a variety of relationship lines that illustrate the type of relationship two parties have currently. Relational dynamics, including closeness, distance, fusion, conflict, and cut-off, for as many relationships as possible.Marital separations marked as one slanted line perpendicular to the marital line.
How to Add Relational Dynamics to Your Genogram Geograms are useful for giving the family of origin "explorer" a great deal of information, but of course, any hypotheses developed via genogram information must be tested in conversation with family members. This would be a tentative hypothesis based solely on genogram information. Mary is the "common denominator" in these relationships, which suggests that she initiated the cut-off. In Bob's family system, his paternal grandmother, Mary, is cut-off from her ex-husband (Dan) as well as her son, Mark (Bob's father). In fact, Bowen explains cut-off as a response to fusion it occurs when the extreme closeness of fusion has become unbearable. Cut-off is characterized by a lack of communication, usually due to ongoing conflict, or a conflictual event (Marlin, 1989).Īccording to Bowen (1985), both cut-off and fusion (another term for enmeshment) are responses to the anxiety generated within the family system. Cut-off is marked in Figure 3 with purple "T" lines between Mary and Dan, as well as Mary and Mark. Cut-off is noted on a genogram with two "T" lines placed between the members of a cut-off relationship.