Genogram example · Academic & teaching
Nuclear Family Symbols Guide
Quick answer
At a glance
| This example | |
|---|---|
| Generations | 3 |
| Family members | 12 (6 male, 6 female) |
| Birth years | 1948 to 2026 |
| Deceased | 1 |
| Index person | Sarah Palmer |
| Conditions marked | Cancer |
| Category | Academic & teaching |
| Tags | Academic, Educational |
About this genogram
A comprehensive teaching genogram demonstrating all standard genogram person symbols and connection types. Includes living male (square), living female (circle), deceased (X), pregnancy (triangle), miscarriage (small filled symbol), stillbirth (X through small symbol), marriage, divorce, separation, cohabitation, engagement, and all child connection types: biological, adopted, foster, and step. Designed as a visual reference guide for students learning genogram notation.
Pattern analysis
Overview
This 3-generation genogram maps 12 family members with birth years spanning from 1948 to 2026, comprising 6 males and 6 females (1 deceased). The genogram tracks 1 medical/psychological condition category. The index patient is Sarah Palmer (b. 1985), veterinarian.
Generation by generation
The family system encompasses 3 generations with distinct patterns at each level. The oldest generation includes George, Helen, Carol and 1 other, with 1 presenting documented conditions. The middle generation includes Michael, Laura, Sarah and 2 others. The youngest generation includes Baby, Miscarriage, Stillbirth.
Health conditions
Medical and psychological conditions are documented in 1 of 12 family members (8%). Cancer diagnoses appears in 1 member (Frank).
Teaching use
As a teaching resource, this genogram demonstrates standard McGoldrick–Gerson notation in a realistic family context. Students can practice identifying key patterns: multigenerational transmission, family life cycle stages, and the interplay between structural relationships and emotional processes. This example serves as a foundation for understanding how genograms organize complex family information into a clinically useful visual format.
How do you read the Nuclear Family Symbols Guide genogram?
- 1
Find each person and generation
Squares are males and circles are females, and each row is one generation, oldest at the top. This one has 6 males and 6 females across 3 generations. - 2
Check the status markers
Markers on a symbol add facts about that person: Deceased (X) and Index Patient (Arrow). 1 person is marked deceased. The index person, the focus of the assessment, is Sarah Palmer. - 3
Follow the family lines
Horizontal lines join partners and vertical lines drop to their children, born left to right in birth order. This genogram uses Marriage, Divorce, Separation, Parent-Child, Biological Child, Adopted Child, Foster Child and Stepchild lines. - 4
Read the shading
Shaded symbols mark health conditions: Cancer. Trace each line of descent to see where a condition recurs and where it stops.
Genogram symbols used in this example
| Symbol | Type | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Male (Square) | Person Symbols | A square represents a male family member in standard genogram notation. |
| Female (Circle) | Person Symbols | A circle represents a female family member in standard genogram notation. |
| Deceased (X) | Status Markers | An X drawn through the symbol indicates the person is deceased. |
| Index Patient (Arrow) | Status Markers | An arrow pointing to a person identifies them as the index patient — the individual who is the focus of the clinical assessment. |
| Marriage | Structural Relationships | A solid horizontal line connecting two individuals represents a marriage or committed partnership. |
| Divorce | Structural Relationships | A marriage line with two diagonal slashes indicates divorce or legal separation. |
| Separation | Structural Relationships | A marriage line with one diagonal slash indicates an informal separation. |
| Parent-Child | Structural Relationships | A vertical line descending from a couple line to a child symbol represents a parent-child relationship. |
| Biological Child | Child Connection Types | A solid vertical line from parent to child indicates a biological relationship. |
| Adopted Child | Child Connection Types | A dashed vertical line with brackets indicates an adopted child. |
| Foster Child | Child Connection Types | A dotted vertical line indicates a foster child placement. |
| Stepchild | Child Connection Types | A dashed vertical line indicates a step-parent/step-child relationship. |
| Cancer | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates any cancer diagnosis, with specifics noted in the individual's record. |
Build a genogram like this one
Example prompt
- 1
Start from the dashboard
Sign in to GenogramAI and choose Create with AI (paid plans), or open a blank genogram and use Ask AI (any plan). To start from this exact chart instead, use Open as template. - 2
Describe your family
Paste a description like the one above, with your own names, dates, relationships and health history. - 3
Check and adjust
Edit people and lines by hand, or ask the AI for one change at a time. - 4
Export
Download a PNG on the free plan. PDF and SVG export are on paid plans.
The free plan includes 2 genograms and 5 AI credits a month. See the AI genogram creator for what else it can do.
Related resources
- Use this example as a reference for genogram assignments in family therapy courses.
- Our guide for genograms for psychology students explains the notation used in this example.
- Start with simple genogram examples if you are new to genogram notation.
- The deceased symbol (X through the shape) marks family members who have passed away.
- The marriage symbol connects partnered individuals in this genogram.
Frequently asked questions
What clinical patterns does the Nuclear Family Symbols Guide genogram reveal?
The Nuclear Family Symbols Guide genogram maps multigenerational transmission of psychological patterns, emotional dynamics, and relationship structures. Clinicians use it to identify recurring cycles of behavior, attachment styles, and communication patterns that may inform diagnosis and treatment planning in family therapy.
How can students use the Nuclear Family Symbols Guide genogram?
Students can use the Nuclear Family Symbols Guide genogram as a reference for learning genogram symbols, notation, and interpretation. It serves as a teaching template for family therapy courses, social work programs, and psychology classes.
What genogram symbols are used in the Nuclear Family Symbols Guide example?
This genogram uses Male (Square), Female (Circle), Deceased (X), Index Patient (Arrow), Marriage, Divorce, Separation, Parent-Child, Biological Child, Adopted Child, Foster Child, Stepchild and 1 more. All of them follow standard genogram notation, so the chart reads the same way in any genogram program or textbook.
Can I build a genogram like the Nuclear Family Symbols Guide example?
Yes. Open GenogramAI, choose Create with AI on the dashboard (paid plans) or open a blank genogram and use Ask AI in the editor (any plan), and describe the family in plain words: who is in it, how they are related, key dates and the relationships or health conditions you want to show. The AI draws the symbols and lines, and you can then edit by hand or ask for one change at a time. A family of 12 people like this one takes a short paragraph to describe. The free plan includes 2 genograms and 5 AI credits a month, with PNG export.
About this example
