What do the symbols mean in a genogram?

Genogram symbols use standardized shapes and lines to represent people and relationships. Squares represent males, circles represent females, and diamonds represent unknown or non-binary gender. An X through a shape means deceased. Relationship lines connect people: solid horizontal lines show marriages, slashes show separation or divorce, and vertical lines connect parents to children. Emotional overlays use patterned lines — parallel lines for closeness, zigzag for conflict, dashed lines for distance, and breaks for cutoffs.

How many genogram symbols are there?

The McGoldrick standard notation includes over 150 symbols across 11 categories: person/gender shapes, vital status indicators, partner relationship lines, relationship status markers, parent-child connections, twin symbols, emotional relationship overlays (38 types), medical condition markers, cultural heritage patterns, religion indicators, and social class markers.

What does a zigzag line mean on a genogram?

A zigzag line on a genogram represents conflict or hostility between two people. A tight zigzag indicates violence. If the zigzag has an arrow, it indicates directed abuse. These emotional relationship overlays are drawn between any two family members to show the quality of their bond.

What is the difference between a circle and a square on a genogram?

A circle represents a female and a square represents a male. This is the most fundamental distinction in genogram notation. Additional shapes include diamonds for unknown or non-binary gender, hexagons for intersex individuals, and triangles for pregnancies or miscarriages.

Distrust Relationship Symbol in Genograms

Understanding Distrust in Family Systems

Distrust represents a fundamental breakdown in the ability to rely on or believe in another family member. Unlike conflict (which may involve trust) or hostility (which may be openly expressed), distrust is often characterized by vigilance, suspicion, and protective guardedness.

Sources of Family Distrust

Betrayal: affairs, financial deception, broken promises
Patterns of dishonesty or unreliability
Boundary violations that damaged sense of safety
Addiction-related behavior
Inherited distrust ("never trust your in-laws")

Clinical Significance

Distrust affects family functioning by:

Limiting information sharing within the family
Creating coalitions and secrets
Preventing resolution of other conflicts
Modeling suspicious relational patterns for children

When to Use This Symbol

Post-betrayal relationships: When a family member has been caught in a significant lie, had an affair, or committed financial deception, the distrust symbol captures the ongoing relational damage even after the precipitating event has passed. It indicates that the wound to the relationship is about reliability and honesty, not just anger.
Addiction-affected families: Family members of someone with active or past addiction often develop pervasive distrust — doubting the person's honesty, promises, and reported behaviors. This symbol documents that distrust specifically, distinct from hostility or distance that may also be present.
Inherited family narratives: When distrust is passed down generationally through warnings ("never trust your uncle," "that side of the family always lies"), the symbol documents a relational pattern that may have no basis in the client's own experience but still shapes their behavior.

How This Differs From the Hostile Symbol

Distrust and hostility frequently coexist but describe different relational dynamics:

Hostile relationships are characterized by open conflict — arguing, criticism, and confrontation. The people are actively fighting.
Distrustful relationships are characterized by guardedness and suspicion. The people may not fight openly but interact with vigilance, secrecy, and doubt. Distrust operates beneath the surface.
A relationship can be hostile without distrust (two people who fight but fundamentally believe each other is honest) or distrustful without hostility (two people who are polite but secretly check up on each other). When both are present, both symbols should be used.

How to Add in GenogramAI

1Press E to activate the Emotional Relationship tool, then click the first family member and drag to the second.
2In the relationship type menu, select Distrust. A black line with X marks will appear between the two individuals, indicating the broken trust.
3Add a note specifying whether the distrust is mutual or one-sided, its origin (betrayal, addiction, inherited narrative), and whether trust repair has been attempted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can distrust be one-directional on a genogram?

Yes. It is common for distrust to flow in one direction — the betrayed person distrusts the betrayer, but not vice versa. When documenting one-sided distrust, add a directional note or use the symbol with a note clarifying which person holds the distrust. In GenogramAI, you can annotate the relationship line to indicate directionality.

How does distrust differ from a distant relationship?

Distance describes low engagement and emotional separation. Distrust describes suspicion and guardedness that may exist at any level of contact. Two people can be close (frequent contact, shared activities) yet deeply distrustful of each other — checking each other's phones, questioning motives, and withholding information. Conversely, distant relationships may involve no distrust at all, just a lack of connection.

Can distrust be repaired, and how does that show on a genogram?

Trust can be rebuilt over time through consistent behavior, accountability, and sometimes therapeutic intervention. As trust is restored, the genogram should be updated — the distrust symbol may be removed or changed to reflect the current relationship quality. Tracking this change over time shows therapeutic progress.

Should I document distrust that is based on accurate assessment rather than irrational suspicion?

Yes. The distrust symbol documents the relational dynamic regardless of whether the distrust is "justified." A person who distrusts a family member with a history of lying is responding rationally, but the distrust still shapes the relationship and warrants documentation. The clinical note can distinguish between evidence-based distrust and generalized suspicion.