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Complete Comparison Guide

Genogram vs Family Tree: What's the Difference?

Both map family relationships, but genograms reveal emotional patterns, medical history, and behavioral dynamics that family trees don't capture. Learn when to use each.

Family Tree

Shows who is related to whom. Focuses on ancestry, lineage, and biological connections across generations.

  • Names and birth/death dates
  • Parent-child relationships
  • Marriages
  • No emotional relationships
  • No medical history

Genogram

Shows how family members relate emotionally. Includes medical history, behavioral patterns, and relationship dynamics.

  • All family tree data PLUS:
  • 49+ emotional relationship types
  • Medical conditions & mental health
  • Divorces, cutoffs, conflicts
  • Standardized clinical notation

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

See exactly how genograms and family trees differ across 12 key features.

FeatureFamily TreeGenogram
Primary PurposeDocument ancestry and lineageAnalyze family dynamics and patterns✓
Emotional RelationshipsNot shown49+ relationship types (close, hostile, cutoff, etc.)✓
Medical HistoryRarely includedStandard feature with condition symbols✓
Mental Health PatternsNot shownTracked across generations✓
Behavioral PatternsNot shownSubstance abuse, occupations, education✓
Relationship QualityShows existence onlyShows closeness, conflict, enmeshment✓
Divorce/RemarriageBasic notationDetailed with dates and relationship lines✓
Clinical UseLimitedStandard in therapy and social work✓
Genealogy ResearchExcellentGood (includes all ancestry data)
SimplicityEasy to create and read✓Requires symbol knowledge
StandardizationVaries widelyMcGoldrick standard notation✓
Software SupportMany options (Ancestry, MyHeritage)Specialized tools (GenogramAI, GenoPro)

When to Use a Genogram vs Family Tree

The right tool depends on your purpose. Here's a quick guide.

Family Therapy

Use: Genogram

Therapists need to see emotional patterns, conflicts, and relationship dynamics to help families heal.

Genealogy Research

Use: Family Tree

Ancestry research focuses on lineage and historical records rather than emotional relationships.

Medical Assessment

Use: Genogram

Doctors use genograms to identify hereditary conditions and health risks across generations.

Social Work

Use: Genogram

Social workers assess family systems, identify at-risk individuals, and plan interventions.

School Projects

Use: Family Tree

Simple ancestry projects don't require clinical detail—a family tree is sufficient.

Psychology Research

Use: Genogram

Researchers studying intergenerational trauma, attachment, or family systems need genogram data.

The Key Insight

A family tree answers: "Who are my ancestors?"

A genogram answers: "Why does my family function the way it does?"

If you're researching ancestry, a family tree works. If you're trying to understand patterns—why certain issues repeat across generations, why some relationships are strained—you need a genogram.

What Genograms Show That Family Trees Don't

Genograms capture the invisible dynamics that shape family life.

Emotional Relationship Quality

Close, distant, hostile, enmeshed, cutoff—49 relationship types with visual symbols.

Medical History Across Generations

Track heart disease, cancer, diabetes, mental health conditions to identify hereditary risks.

Behavioral Patterns

Substance abuse, career patterns, educational achievement tracked across generations.

Complex Family Structures

Divorces, remarriages, step-siblings, half-siblings, adoptions, foster relationships.

Pregnancy Losses

Miscarriages, stillbirths, and abortions that affect family dynamics but are often invisible.

Intergenerational Trauma

Patterns of abuse, neglect, or dysfunction that repeat across generations become visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between a genogram and a family tree?
A family tree shows biological lineage and ancestry (who is related to whom). A genogram includes this plus emotional relationships (close, distant, conflicted), medical history, behavioral patterns, and life events using standardized clinical symbols. Genograms are diagnostic tools; family trees are genealogical records.
When should I use a genogram instead of a family tree?
Use a genogram when you need to understand relationship dynamics, identify health patterns, or work in clinical settings (therapy, social work, medicine). Use a family tree for genealogy research, ancestry documentation, or simple family records without emotional or medical detail.
Can a genogram replace a family tree?
Yes, a genogram contains all family tree information plus additional layers. However, if you only need ancestry records without clinical detail, a simpler family tree may be more appropriate. Genograms are more complex but more informative for understanding family systems.
Do therapists use family trees or genograms?
Therapists, counselors, and social workers primarily use genograms because they reveal relationship patterns, emotional dynamics, and intergenerational issues that family trees don't capture. Genograms are standard tools in family therapy, developed by Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson.
What can a genogram show that a family tree cannot?
Genograms show: emotional relationship quality (close, hostile, enmeshed, cutoff), medical conditions across generations, mental health patterns, substance abuse, divorces and remarriages, miscarriages and stillbirths, adoption and foster relationships, and occupational/educational information.
Is a pedigree chart the same as a genogram?
No. A pedigree chart (used in genetics) shows inheritance patterns for specific traits or conditions. A genogram is broader, including emotional relationships, behavioral patterns, and psychosocial factors beyond genetic inheritance. Pedigrees focus on biology; genograms include psychology.
How do I convert a family tree into a genogram?
Start with your family tree structure, then add: 1) Standardized symbols (squares for males, circles for females), 2) Relationship lines showing emotional quality, 3) Medical history for each person, 4) Life events and dates, 5) Behavioral patterns. GenogramAI can help automate this process.
What is an ecomap and how is it different from a genogram?
An ecomap shows a person's connections to external systems (work, school, community, healthcare) rather than family relationships. Genograms focus on family; ecomaps focus on social environment. They're often used together in social work assessments for a complete picture.

Ready to Create a Genogram?

GenogramAI makes it easy to create professional genograms with AI assistance. Describe your family and watch the genogram build automatically.

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