Genogram and Ecomap

Question 1

What is a genogram?

Answer 1

A genogram depicts inter-generational family maps to provide a picture of what is occurring across families and across generations, providing a broad framework with which to view family, emotional and social relationships.

Question 2

How does a genogram help a social service practitioner?

Answer 2

• identify and understand repetitive patterns of behavior - recognise hereditary tendencies
• genograms are popular with healthcare professionals in areas such as social work, psychology, psychiatry, genealogy, genetic research, education
• map the medical history of a family
• hereditary patterns
• genetics
• psychological patterns

Question 3

What is an ecomap?

Answer 3

a tool that shows the interaction of people with their environment.

Question 4

What is the use of an ecomap?

Answer 4

• a tool useful for depicting relationships of families and groups
• clinical tool to portray the makeup of family social relationships and resources.
• a research tool to map the care giving networks available to families
• a simple assessment, planning and intervention tool, which depicts nurturing relationships or conversely, conflict-laden connections between the family and the world
• demonstrate the flow of resources, or the lack thereof; they highlight the nature of the connections; the points of conflicts to be mediated and bridges to be built