The deceased symbol in genograms is indicated by drawing an X through the person's shape. This universal notation instantly identifies family members who have passed away, allowing therapists to map mortality patterns, understand grief dynamics, and identify losses that may affect current family functioning.
Deceased Male
Square with X
Deceased Female
Circle with X
1945-2020
With Dates
Deceased: X drawn through the person symbol
In standard genogram notation, a deceased family member is indicated by drawing an X through their symbol. The X typically extends slightly beyond the edges of the shape, making it clearly visible. The underlying shape (square for male, circle for female) remains intact to preserve gender identification.
According to McGoldrick, Gerson, and Petry: "An X through a symbol indicates the person is deceased." The X should be drawn through the center of the shape, with lines extending from corner to corner (for squares) or at 45-degree angles (for circles).
Beyond the X symbol, genograms typically include additional death-related information:
Written below the symbol: "1945-2020" indicates birth in 1945 and death in 2020. This provides age context at a glance.
Some practitioners write the age inside the symbol or nearby. "75" indicates the person died at age 75.
Abbreviations or notes can indicate cause: "CA" (cancer), "MI" (heart attack), "MVA" (motor vehicle accident), "suicide," etc.
For deaths that occurred before living memory, some use a lighter X or dotted lines to indicate less certain information.
Mapping deceased family members serves several therapeutic purposes:
Including precise death dates transforms a genogram from a simple family tree into a powerful analytical tool. Death dates reveal temporal patterns that would otherwise remain hidden:
Murray Bowen's foundational family systems research identified death—particularly untimely or traumatic death—as one of the most significant stressors affecting family functioning across generations. His concept of the "emotional shock wave" describes how a death can trigger symptoms in family members years later, sometimes in members who seemed least affected at the time.
Monica McGoldrick's extensive research on loss and the family life cycle demonstrates that families who can openly acknowledge and process death generally adapt more successfully than families where death becomes a taboo topic. The genogram serves as a tool for making death visible and speakable.
More recent research in epigenetics suggests that trauma—including traumatic loss—may have biological effects that transmit across generations. This provides a scientific framework for understanding why patterns of early death or traumatic loss may have ongoing effects on descendants who never directly experienced the original event.
When mapping deaths, look for patterns: Do males in the family tend to die young? Are there clusters of deaths at certain ages? Do deaths correlate with life transitions (e.g., shortly after retirement, after children leave home)? These patterns can be clinically significant and warrant discussion.
For stillbirths (death at or before birth), use the full-size symbol with an X. For miscarriages, use the smaller filled circle. The distinction matters for understanding family dynamics and grief patterns.
Deaths by suicide are typically noted with a cause annotation. Some practitioners use additional notation (like a specific color or mark) given the hereditary and psychological significance of suicide in family systems.
When a death is recent (within the past year or two), note the recency. This contextualizes current family distress and suggests active grief processes.
Square - basic male representation
Circle - basic female representation
Small filled circle - pregnancy loss
Orange fill - substance use disorders
Traditionally, yes—the X extends slightly beyond the edges of the symbol for visibility. However, in digital tools like GenogramAI, the X may be contained within the shape for cleaner rendering while remaining clearly visible.
Mark them as deceased with the X. Add "d. unknown" or "d. ?" to indicate the death date is unknown. Include whatever information you have (approximate decade, "before 1990", etc.).
For missing persons whose status is unknown, use a question mark inside the symbol or note "missing" nearby. If presumed dead, some practitioners use a dotted X.
Some practitioners include significant pets, especially in family therapy contexts where pet loss has been traumatic. Use a small symbol with a note. This is particularly relevant for families where a pet death was the first major loss a child experienced.
Mark each individual as deceased and add a note linking them (e.g., "died together in MVA 2015"). Some practitioners draw a dotted box around simultaneous deaths to visually connect them. This is particularly important for understanding trauma responses in survivors.
This is clinically significant information. Note what the client knows vs. what is suspected. Family secrets around death (suicide, AIDS, overdose) often create intergenerational patterns of shame, anxiety, or confusion that affect current functioning.
Use the standard X through the symbol. Add birth and death dates to show the timeline. These "ghosts" in the family system often have significant influence despite never being known directly—especially if the person was a sibling who died before the client's birth.
GenogramAI makes it easy to document deceased family members and understand generational patterns of mortality and grief.
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