Genogram Glossary
Complete guide to genogram terminology, symbols, and concepts used by therapists, social workers, and healthcare professionals.
What is an Index Person in a Genogram?
The index person (also known as the proband or identified patient) is the central individual around whom the entire genogram is constructed. This person serves as the reference point for mapping all other family relationships and is the starting point for understanding family patterns.
How to Identify the Index Person
In genograms, the index person is typically marked with a double border around their symbol (double square for males, double circle for females) or indicated with an arrow pointing to their symbol.
Common Uses
- Therapy: The client seeking treatment is the index person
- Medical Settings: The patient being evaluated for hereditary conditions
- Genealogy: The person researching their family history
- Social Work: The individual at the center of a case study
Common Genogram Symbols
Male
Square shape
Female
Circle shape
Unknown Gender
Diamond shape
Deceased
X through symbol
Index Person (Male)
Double border
Index Person (Female)
Double border
Pregnancy
Triangle shape
Miscarriage
Filled circle
Relationship Lines Explained
Structural Relationships
Emotional Relationships
Complete Glossary A-Z
Core Concepts
Genogram
A graphical representation of a family tree that displays detailed information about relationships, medical history, emotional patterns, and other family dynamics across multiple generations. More comprehensive than a simple family tree.
Identified Patient (IP)
The family member who has been labeled as "the problem" or who is presenting with symptoms. In family systems theory, the IP's symptoms often reflect broader family dysfunction. The IP is typically the index person in clinical genograms.
Index Person
The central individual around whom the genogram is constructed. The index person serves as the reference point for all other family relationships and is typically indicated by a double border around their symbol or an arrow pointing to them. In clinical settings, this is usually the client or patient; in genealogy, it's the person researching their family.
Multigenerational Patterns
Behaviors, beliefs, emotional patterns, or conditions that repeat across multiple generations of a family. Genograms are particularly useful for identifying these patterns, such as addiction, divorce, abuse, or medical conditions.
Proband
A term from genetics referring to the individual through whom a family is first identified for study or treatment. The proband is the starting point for constructing the genogram and tracing family patterns. Often used interchangeably with index person.
Transgenerational Transmission
The process by which patterns, behaviors, traumas, or emotional processes are passed down from one generation to the next. Genograms help visualize these transmissions across family generations.
Emotional Patterns
Close Relationship
An emotional bond characterized by warmth, intimacy, and positive connection between family members. Represented in genograms by two parallel lines between individuals.
Conflict / Conflictual Relationship
A relationship characterized by ongoing tension, disagreement, or hostility. Represented in genograms by a zigzag or jagged line between the individuals involved.
Cutoff / Estrangement
A complete severing of a relationship where family members have no contact. Shown in genograms with a broken line with perpendicular hash marks, indicating the relationship has been terminated.
Distant Relationship
An emotional pattern characterized by emotional distance, limited contact, or lack of intimacy between family members. Shown with a dotted or dashed line between individuals.
Enmeshment / Fusion
An unhealthy level of closeness where boundaries between individuals are blurred. Family members may be overly involved in each other's lives. Shown with three parallel lines between individuals.
Fused-Conflict
A relationship pattern where individuals are intensely connected but also experience significant conflict. This volatile combination is shown with three parallel lines with a zigzag pattern.
Family Structure
Family of Origin
The family in which a person was raised, typically including parents and siblings. Understanding the family of origin is crucial in genogram work as it reveals patterns that may influence current behavior and relationships.
Nuclear Family
A family unit consisting of parents and their children, excluding extended relatives. In genograms, the nuclear family is often centrally positioned around the index person.
Relationships
Adoptive Parent
A person who has legally adopted a child. In genograms, adoptive relationships are shown with a dashed line connecting the parent to the child, distinguishing them from biological relationships.
Biological Parent
A person who is genetically related to a child. In genograms, biological parent-child relationships are shown with solid vertical lines descending from the parental union.
Cohabitation
A living arrangement where two partners share a household without being legally married. Shown in genograms with a dashed horizontal line connecting the partners.
Divorce
The legal dissolution of a marriage. In genograms, divorce is indicated by two parallel diagonal slashes (//) through the marriage line connecting former spouses.
Foster Parent
A person who provides temporary care for a child placed by a social service agency. In genograms, foster relationships are indicated with a dotted line and may include a notation.
Marriage
A legal union between partners. In genograms, marriage is shown with a solid horizontal line connecting the two partners. The marriage year may be noted on or near the line.
Separation
A period where married partners live apart but are not legally divorced. In genograms, separation is shown with a single diagonal slash through the marriage line.
Sibling
Brothers and sisters who share at least one parent. In genograms, siblings are shown in birth order from left (oldest) to right (youngest), connected by a horizontal line descending from their parents.
Status
Deceased
A person who has died. In genograms, deceased individuals are marked with an X through their symbol (square, circle, or diamond). The death year is typically noted below the symbol.
Miscarriage
The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. In genograms, miscarriages are represented by a small filled (black) circle, positioned in the sibling order where the child would have been.
Pregnancy
An ongoing pregnancy. In genograms, pregnancy is represented by a small triangle, positioned in the expected birth order among siblings.
Stillbirth
The death of a baby after 20 weeks of pregnancy but before or during delivery. In genograms, stillbirths are typically shown with the appropriate gender symbol (square or circle) with an X through it.
Structure
Generation
A level in the family tree representing people born around the same time period. Genograms are organized horizontally by generation, with older generations at the top and younger generations below.
Symbols
Emotional Relationship Lines
Special lines in genograms that depict the quality and nature of relationships beyond biological or legal connections. These include lines for close, distant, conflictual, fused, and hostile relationships.
Genogram Symbols
Standardized shapes and icons used to represent individuals, relationships, and patterns in a genogram. Basic symbols include: squares (male), circles (female), diamonds (unknown gender), triangles (pregnancy), and various line patterns for relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an index person in a genogram?
The index person (also called the identified patient or proband) is the central person around whom the genogram is built. They are typically marked with a double border or arrow and represent the starting point for mapping family relationships. In therapy, this is usually the client; in medical settings, it's the patient being evaluated.
What does proband mean in a genogram?
Proband is a term borrowed from genetics that refers to the individual who is the focus of the genogram study. The proband is the starting point for tracing family patterns, medical history, or genetic conditions. In clinical genograms, the proband is often the person seeking treatment or evaluation.
What are the basic genogram symbols?
Basic genogram symbols include: squares for males, circles for females, diamonds for unknown gender, an X through the symbol for deceased individuals, triangles for pregnancies, and small filled circles for miscarriages. Relationship lines connect family members, with different patterns indicating marriage, divorce, or emotional relationships.
What do the different lines mean in a genogram?
Genogram lines represent different types of relationships. Solid horizontal lines indicate marriage, double slashes indicate divorce, dotted lines indicate cohabitation. Emotional relationship lines include: double lines for close relationships, zigzag lines for conflict, dotted lines for distant relationships, and lines with breaks for estrangement or cutoff.
How many generations should a genogram include?
A standard genogram typically includes three generations: the index person, their parents, and their grandparents. However, genograms can extend to more generations if relevant patterns need to be tracked, or focus on fewer generations depending on the clinical purpose.
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