Genogram Symbols Guide
150+ symbols across 11 categories
The complete reference for every genogram symbol supported in GenogramAI — person shapes, life status indicators, family relationship lines, child connections, twins, emotional dynamics, medical conditions, cultural heritage patterns, religion, social class, and more. Based on McGoldrick standard notation and extended for modern clinical practice.
All 150+ genogram symbols at a glance — download printable PDF
About these guides: Each symbol page includes the standard notation, clinical significance, therapeutic applications, and step-by-step instructions for use in GenogramAI. Content is based on “Genograms: Assessment and Treatment” (4th ed.) by McGoldrick, Gerson, and Petry.
Person Symbols
Each person in a genogram is represented by a shape that indicates their gender identity. These shapes are the foundational building blocks of every genogram.
Life Status Indicators
Symbols overlaid on or replacing person shapes to indicate alive, deceased, pregnancy, and pregnancy loss.
Family Relationship Lines
Horizontal lines connecting partners represent different types of romantic, legal, and sexual relationships. Stroke styles, dash patterns, and slash marks distinguish each type.
Marriage Symbol
Solid line connecting partners, clinical context
Divorce Symbol
Double slash marks indicating legal dissolution
For an in-depth breakdown of every line style used in genograms, see our complete genogram relationship lines guide.
Child Connection Lines
Vertical lines descending from a couple's relationship line to a child. Different dash patterns indicate the type of parent-child connection.
Twin Types
Twins are shown as two child lines emerging from a single point on the couple line. A horizontal bar between the lines distinguishes identical from fraternal twins.
Emotional Dynamics
Wavy, dashed, and colored lines drawn alongside or between people to document the emotional quality of relationships. These 38 types span positive bonds, distance, conflict, abuse, and directional patterns.
Visual Reference
Positive Bonds
Harmony
Balanced, peaceful relationship
Close
Warm, supportive emotional bond with healthy boundaries
Fused/Enmeshed
Over-involved relationship with blurred boundaries
Love
Deep affection and caring bond
In Love
Romantic love between partners
Attachment
Secure attachment bond
Friendship
Non-familial supportive bond
Limerence
Intense involuntary romantic attraction
Connected
Basic relationship connection exists
Distance & Boundaries
Distant
Emotional disconnection despite structural relationship
Estranged
Between distant and complete cutoff
Cutoff
Complete emotional disconnection
Cutoff Repaired
Previously cutoff, now restored
Indifferent
Lack of emotional investment
Never Met
Family members who have never had contact
Conflict & Hostility
Conflict
Active tension and arguments
Hostile
Active antagonism and tension
Violence
Physical violence or threat
Hate
Deep-seated animosity and rejection
Distrust
Lack of trust or suspicion
Close-Hostile
Volatile intimacy with conflict
Distant-Hostile
Cold antagonism with limited contact
Fused-Hostile
Enmeshment combined with active conflict
Abuse & Control
Abuse (General)
Generic abuse pattern
Physical Abuse
Physical violence or harm
Emotional Abuse
Psychological harm and manipulation
Sexual Abuse
Sexual violation or exploitation
Physical Neglect
Failure to provide adequate care
Emotional Neglect
Failure to provide emotional support
Control
Exerts dominant control over another
Manipulative
Covert influence or psychological manipulation
Directional Patterns
Focused On
Intensely focused on another person
Focused On Negatively
Persistent negative attention
Caretaker
Provides care for another
Fan/Admirer
Admiration or fan relationship
Jealous
Jealousy-driven dynamic
Want to see these emotional dynamics drawn on a real family map? Browse our emotional patterns genogram example or explore the full relationship lines reference.
Medical Categories
GenogramAI supports 22 color-coded medical categories. Each category fills a quadrant of the person shape, allowing up to four conditions per individual. Colors follow clinical conventions.
Example: Person with 4 medical conditions
Top-left: Heart Disease
Top-right: Cancer
Bottom-left: Diabetes
Bottom-right: Mental Health
Cultural Heritage Patterns
Pattern fills applied to person shapes to represent cultural or ethnic heritage. Assign different patterns to visually distinguish heritage backgrounds across the genogram.
Example: Family with different cultural backgrounds
A couple where each partner has a different cultural background. The male (crosshatch) and female (horizontal lines) each have a distinct pattern. Assign one pattern per family member to visually distinguish heritage.
Religion Indicators
Small icons in the top-left corner of a person shape indicate religious affiliation. GenogramAI supports 12 religion indicators.
Other Markers
Additional visual indicators that can be applied to person nodes for immigration status, primary person designation, and location.
Continue Learning
Explore related genogram resources to deepen your understanding of family mapping.
Genogram Relationship Lines
In-depth guide to every line style — marriage, divorce, emotional bonds, conflict, and more.
Genogram Examples
Real-world and fictional family genograms showing these symbols in context.
What Is a Genogram?
A beginner-friendly introduction to genograms, their history, and clinical applications.
Free Downloadable Guides
Print-ready PDFs you can reference anytime — no sign-up required.
Download Genogram Symbol Chart (PDF)
Get a printable reference with all 150+ genogram symbols. Perfect for quick reference during sessions or teaching.
- All person shapes & life status indicators
- All family relationship & child connection lines
- 31 emotional dynamics types
- Medical, cultural, religion & social class symbols
Try These Symbols in GenogramAI
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Social Class Indicators
A color-coded dollar sign icon in the bottom-left corner of a person shape indicates socioeconomic status. Five levels are supported.
Example: People with social class indicators
Male with Middle-class indicator (green) and Female with Upper-Middle indicator (blue). The dollar sign icon appears in the bottom-left corner.