Genogram Maker
Reference

Genogram Relationship Lines

Genogram relationship lines (emotional lines) are drawn between two people to show the quality of their relationship: parallel lines for close or fused, a dotted line for distant, a zigzag for conflict, a broken line with bars for a cutoff, and arrows for one-directional patterns such as focus, neglect and abuse.

Walter1938–2011Ruth85Daniel60Claire58Sam56Nora30Leo27Ivy18
Fig. 1 — Close, conflict and cutoff lines in one familyOpen in Genogram Maker

Closeness

LineLooks likeMeaning
CloseTwo parallel linesA warm, supportive relationship.
FusedThree parallel linesEnmeshed: boundaries between the two are blurred.
DistantDotted lineLittle emotional contact.

Conflict

LineLooks likeMeaning
ConflictZigzagOngoing discord or arguments.
HostileZigzag with a straight lineOpen hostility.
Close–hostileClose lines with a zigzag over themClose and conflicted at once.
Fused–hostileFused lines with a zigzagEnmeshed and conflicted.
Distant–hostileDotted line with a zigzagLittle contact, and hostile when there is.
CutoffLine broken by two barsNo contact at all.

Directed lines (with an arrow)

These point from the person doing it to the person it is done to.

LineLooks likeMeaning
Focused onSolid arrowOne person is preoccupied with the other.
NeglectDashed arrowOne person neglects the other.
AbuseDashed zigzag with an arrowAbuse where the type is not specified.
Physical abuseHeavy zigzag with an arrowPhysical harm.
Emotional abuseLight dashed zigzag with an arrowEmotional or psychological harm.
Sexual abuseDouble zigzag with an arrowSexual harm.

Tips

  • Only draw lines your notes support. Emotional lines are interpretation; say where they come from.
  • Tell lines apart by pattern, not only color, so they still read when printed in black and white.
  • Put every line style you used in the key.