Relationships
Structural and emotional connections
Relationships in genograms come in two types: structural (family bonds like marriage and parent-child) and emotional (the quality of relationships). GenogramAI supports 17 structural types, 7 child connection types, and 24 emotional overlays.
Creating Relationships
Structural Connections
- 1Use the Connect tool in the toolbar
- 2Click on first person's connection handle
- 3Drag to second person
- 4Release to create connection
- 5System auto-detects type based on generation
Emotional Overlays
- 1Use the Connect tool, then pick an emotional type in the Inspector
- 2Click on first person
- 3Drag to second person
- 4Select emotional type from menu
- 5Overlay appears on existing line
Structural Relationships (16 Types)
These define the family structure—who is married to whom, partnership types, and intimate relationships.
Marriage
Solid line
Divorce
Solid line + two slashes
Separation (Legal)
Solid line + one slash
Separation (Physical)
Dashed line + one slash
Annulment
Solid line + two slashes + X
Widowed
Solid line + X
Cohabitation
Dashed line
Engagement
Dotted line
Dating
Light dotted line
Life Partner
Solid single line
Affair
Pink dashed line
One-night Stand
Pink sparse-dotted line
Rape
Red line + red X
Parent-Child
Vertical line
Association
Generic link line
Unknown
Dotted line + circled "?"
Child Connection Types (7 Types)
Define how children are connected to parents—biological, adopted, foster, or through assisted reproduction.
Biological
Biological child
Adopted
Legally adopted
Foster
Foster placement
Step
Stepchild
Surrogate
Born via surrogate
Sperm Donor
Sperm donor conception
Egg Donor
Egg donor conception
Twins & Multiples
GenogramAI supports fraternal and identical twins, triplets, and higher-order multiples using standard V-shaped notation.
Fraternal Twins
Dizygotic - V-shaped connection
Identical Twins
Monozygotic - V with bar
How Relationship Types Are Determined
- Same generation: Defaults to Marriage (horizontal line)
- Different generation: Defaults to Parent-Child (vertical line)
- To change: Click the relationship line, then select type from Inspector
Emotional Relationships (38 Types)
Emotional overlays show the quality of relationships. They are drawn as straight lines between the two people, offset from any structural connection, and curve only where you add pivot points. Organized into 4 categories.
Positive (5 types)
Balanced, peaceful relationship
Warm, supportive bond with healthy boundaries
Non-familial supportive bond
Deep affection and caring
Mutual romantic attachment
Secure ongoing emotional tie
One-sided infatuation
Over-involved; boundaries blurred
Enmeshed and actively conflictual
Enmeshed with open antagonism
Enmeshed with physical violence
Negative/Tension (8 types)
Active tension and arguments
Open antagonism
Physical violence or threat
Deep-seated animosity
Suspicion, withheld confidence
Possessiveness and envy
Close yet openly antagonistic
Close with physical violence
Distance/Disconnection (4 types)
Emotional disconnection
No emotional investment
Contact deliberately broken
A break since reconciled
No relationship ever formed
Disengaged and antagonistic
Disengaged with violence
Abuse/Control (7 types)
Generic abuse pattern
Bodily harm, harm-doer to harmed
Coercion, degradation, control
Sexual violation
Care, food or shelter withheld
Emotional care withheld
Coercive control
Covert influence
Attention directed at one person
Critical or blaming focus
Caregiving directed at another
Admiration directed at another
Editing Relationships
Change Type
Click on any relationship line to select it. Use the Inspector panel to change the relationship type from the dropdown menu.
Delete
Select the relationship line and press Delete or Backspace.
Add Notes
Relationships can have notes attached. Select the line and use the Inspector to add context about the relationship dynamic.