Genogram and Family Therapy

Genogram and Family Therapy

Introduction

A genogram is the pictorial presentation of a large family. Especially, this is useful for understanding large families (McGoldrick, 2011). With the help of genogram, we can also see the hierarchy of power in a family. In large families, more than one family are living. Unlike nuclear families, the number of members is also which causes conflicts among them. In order to treat them, family therapists are using different techniques and some of them are also using genograms for the correct picture of family.

Details of subsystem family

In this genogram, there are three layers. The first one is the grandfather and grandmother like Zeek Braverman and Camile Braverman in the film Parenthood. The second layer comprises of my parent, uncle & his wife and aunt & her wife. In a movie, this layer includes Adam (son) Sarah (daughter), Julia (daughter and Crosboy (son). In the second layer, the sons, daughters, son-in-law and daughter-in-law of grandfather have maintained. Like Parenthood movie, in the third layer, the grandchildren like me are kept. In the movie, there are nine grandchildren, and in my genogram there are eight grandchildren. They all are cousins of one another.

Genogram in the context of subsystem

A large family is one in which at least one of grandparent is living with its son or daughter and their children. In genogram, we have also seen that there are three layers. The highest layer represents the highest authority of power in the family. The lowest is youngest and usually unmarried. They have fewer powers as well as responsibilities. The middle layer is more responsible in terms of earning and nourishment of children. They are responsible for the education, health, recreational and other activities of children.

Relationship Patterns

In a large family, a number of association patterns exist. Some relations like children and parent are necessary for the sake of survival especially when children are very young. In addition, some relations build for the sake of fulfilling social, economic and biological needs. These relations are the results of marriage and birth. In families, some relations get birth because they have same personality. They have same thinking patterns, emotion, likes and dislikes. Some relations establishes because they are living together and care for each others needs e.g. brother and sister, cousins and so on.

Life-cycle transitions

Life-cycle transitions are common in every type of family. In our family also some most significant events had occurred which had changed the typical living style of our family. The most common are the birth of paternal cousin, my sisters' job, engagement of my cousin and so on. These events are really changing the feelings and lifestyle of the whole family particularly in large families.

Marriage and Family system

Marriage

Marriage is the foundation of the fact that men and women compliment each other. It is the social contract in which both adult male and female are intentionally promising to live together. In the same way, it is a biological truth confirming reproduction depends on a ...