Genogram examples
The fastest way to learn a genogram is to read one. Every example below is a real, filled-in family map. They read top to bottom, oldest generation first: shapes are people, lines are relationships, and shading records health. Open any one in the maker and make it your own.
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- Square = male
- Circle = female
- Line = relationship
- Shading = health
3-generation genogram example
The classic format, and the one most assignments ask for. Three generations is usually enough to reveal the patterns a plain family tree would hide. Here is one with every key part labeled.
More genogram examples
The same standard symbols, put to work for different jobs. Open any example to start from it in the tool.
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Family genogram
A complete household across two generations: parents joined by a marriage line, with their children dropping below. The accent square marks the index person the map centers on.
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Medical / health genogram
The same structure, plus health. Shaded shapes flag a condition, and an X marks a relative who has died, so hereditary patterns are visible at a glance.
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Cultural genogram
A dashed enclosure groups a shared cultural or ethnic identity around a branch of the family, the standard move for social-work and counseling coursework.
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Career genogram
Each person is labeled by their work or field instead of a name, revealing how occupations and education repeat from one generation to the next.
What makes a good genogram
The examples above share four things. Keep these in mind and yours will read clearly to anyone.
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Clear generations
Each generation sits on its own row, oldest at the top, so the structure reads at a glance.
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Standard symbols
Squares, circles, and the correct relationship lines, so anyone can read it the same way.
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Consistent layout
Even spacing and aligned partners keep the diagram legible as the family grows.
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Only what matters
Show the relationships and markers that tell the story. Restraint keeps a genogram useful.
Start from an example, not a blank page
Open any example, swap in your own family, and let AI fill the gaps. Your finished genogram is minutes away.
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Genogram examples FAQ
Quick answers to the questions people ask most about reading and using genogram examples.
What is a genogram example?
A genogram example is a completed, filled-in genogram you can study to see how the standard symbols and relationship lines come together. Reading a few real examples is the fastest way to learn the conventions before you build your own.
What does a 3-generation genogram look like?
A three-generation genogram stacks grandparents on top, their children in the middle, and the youngest generation at the bottom, connected by marriage and parent-child lines. It is the standard format for coursework because three generations is usually enough to reveal repeating patterns.
How do you read a genogram?
Read top to bottom, oldest generation first. Squares are male and circles are female, horizontal lines connect partners, vertical lines drop to children, and a second layer of lines and shading records emotional bonds and health across the family.
Can I edit these genogram examples?
Yes. Every example here can be opened in the free Genogenie maker as a starting point. Swap in your own family members, adjust the relationships, then export to PDF, PNG, or Word.
What is the difference between a genogram example and a template?
An example is a finished genogram filled with sample people, meant to show you how a real one reads. A template is an empty or partially built starting structure you fill in yourself. Browse the examples to learn, then start from a template to build.