IndexIntroductionHistorical Context of the GenogramAdvantagesConclusionIntroductionThere has always been a fascination in drawing some sort of connection between family members. If it's a united family, the fun in making them doubles. The multiple number of connections, their relationships, names and everything else make it an exciting activity for children. It has this advantage of keeping it as a useful tool for new additions to the family. It helps them distinguish relationships and correctly identify people. When you try to represent the structure of the family, its size, its members, in the form of a structured format, then it is a simple flowchart or a family tree. But when things go to a higher level, they are more organized with more information in one compact area. Genogram is such a simple tool to provide your family with a pictorial representation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Historical Background of the Genogram The genogram has no structured or defined history. But whatever the available facts, one can understand that it was somewhere in the late 1970s that this term gained recognition. It subsequently grew in structure, definition and scope. Genogram was not actually the actual term used. It was initially the name of the family diagram and then with the addition of evolved features, the name genogram became popular. Going back to history and its initial usage, it was Dr. Murray Bowen who started using this terminology. It was used in the field of medicine and later spread to other fields as well. It was in the 1980s that a book about this term was published. Subsequently its use and usefulness led to its diffusion and it became known to everyone. Genogram is this illustration that tries to provide every important detail of the family and its members. This is an organized and structured approach to family information. Requirements of a Genogram: Now that you know what exactly a genogram is, you can start making it. Since this is a pictorial description of the family and its members, some symbols will be needed to represent the members. The commonly used symbols and their logic are represented as: Gender-specific symbols: There are two symbols to represent the two genders. A square box represents a male member while a circle depicts a female member. On these a combination of colours, crosses and lines depicts further information about the individual. Defining Relationships: There are a variety of lines with different symbols and signs on them. Each of these lines describes the type of relationship between people. It can represent marriage, divorce or even hostile relations between two family members. Colors: The wide variety of colors are used to represent the particular disease the person is expected to develop or suffer from. Each color is assigned a disease. Making a Genogram: It is extremely easy to make a genogram when you know the basic information of your family members. You should start with the first person who started the family. The pair can be created using a simple connecting line between a square and a circle. Depending on the level of the disease, it is possible to depict it on the forms. Secondly, we need to get to the next generation of the couple. This must be done with a line coming from the center of the connecting line between those previously drawn. There is no need to trace.