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While identical twins are represented in the same way, both the shapes are associated with a line in between the image below. To simply show twins, the lines connected to the shape originate from the same point making an upside-down V. Adopted and foster children are represented with a dashed and dotted line, respectively. For an unknown gender, a question mark, while for a pet, a diamond with a dotted line is used. Some of the basic components of a genogram include gender symbols, pets, twins, death, etc.Ī square represents the males, whereas a circle for females. Unlike family trees, a genogram uses symbols to represent an individual. It will help analyze parenting, separation, adaptation, and strained relationships.Ī genogram can be vital in researching an individual’s ancestors and their origin.įamily and emotional genograms are an excellent way to study relationships between individuals.Ī genogram also helps map out any previous illnesses in the family and mark those affected by it. Similar to a family tree, you can use a genogram to study relationships between different individuals. Let’s see some of the places where a genogram is used: There are many types of genograms that all have different applications. In short, genogram is a pictorial representation of a family showing relationships, dependencies, medical history, and psychological patterns. A genogram will help you list the family members and their relationships, medical history, and emotional connections.
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A genogram is an advanced version of a family tree that is slightly less complex and easy to understand.
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