CMP 105: Family of Origin Genogram Analysis Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of a family genogram, exploring significant dates, intergenerational conflicts, and cultural influences. The analysis delves into the family's history, including marriage dates, the number of children, and educational backgrounds, revealing patterns of conflict and adherence to cultural norms. The author, a first-generation university graduate, examines the impact of these dynamics on their personality, highlighting religious choices, intercultural marriages, and the shift from collectivism to individualism. The report also discusses the family's adherence to rules and traditions, such as religious holidays, prayer practices, and gender roles, while acknowledging the adaptations made due to acculturation and work-life balance. The author's experience is contrasted with that of the maternal side of the family that had alcohol issues, and the impact of education is explored in the context of family dynamics.

Running head: GENOGRAM ANALYSIS
GENOGRAM ANALYSIS
Name of Student
Name of University
Author note

1
GENOGRAM ANALYSIS
RESPONSE TO QUESTION 1
Response to question A
The important dates are 1918: Grandparents (both farmers) got married. 1935 had my
father (3rd child) two female born earlier in 1923 and 1926. My father and mother got married
in 1965 and had 5 children in 1967 (male), 1970 (male), 1973 (female) and 1976 (female) and
1980 (female) (3 females and 2 males). Parents did not go to school. They were farmers and
traders. I am the youngest of the family (born in 1980). I am a female and first generation
university goer. I, shown as the index person have graduate degree.
Response to question B
As shown in the genogram, there exists conflicts between the generational conflicts
between the older and the new generations and it is highly important to note, analyzing the
genogram that there exists cross generational conflicts between the first generation and the
third generation and also between the second generation and the third generation. The
conflicts are generally based on religion related choices and the intercultural marriage choices
(Geigges et al., 2020). It can be seen from the genogram that how the relationship dynamics
in terms of extended family attachment patterns, the patterns of recognition and differences
between the ideologies about collectiveness among the family members has led to distortion
in the family relationships and there a pattern can be identified that is the class is between the
generations and not really in the or amongst the members of the same generation. The clash
between the older (third and second generation) and younger generation (the third generation
with five siblings) on the topic or rather in the various beliefs and perceptions about religious
choices and also the conflict of opinions pertaining to the issues relating to subject of inter-
cultural marriages where the youngest generation is very much in favor of the same and the
older generations are against it have resulted in the parental disapprovals and more
disruption were led by the parental parenting styles (Sitnik-Warchulska & Izydorczyk, 2018).

2
GENOGRAM ANALYSIS
This intergenerational conflict (occurring multiple times) between the older and the younger
generation can be attributed to the fact that the nobody in the entire three generations had a
proper full length proper education other than the index person (which is me, born 1980)
shown in the genogram who is the first one in the entire family tree shown to receive a
graduate degree and lack of proper education in others has resulted in cognitive rigidity and
problems with the freedom of thinking, that has resulted in the family intergenerational
conflicts.
Response to question C
My maternal family unlike my paternal had alcohol issues. It is a cross generational
issue as it can be clearly observed in the genogram, that the second member from the left of
third generation has the alcohol abuse issue just like our maternal grandparents.
RESPONSE TO QUESTION 2
Response to question A
My name is Sierra Leonean and I am from West Africa. I was born and bought up
within a middle class Islamic family. I am married and have a husband. The family, where I
come from, is tolerant religiously, however, they still adhere to the strict cultural norms that
are mentioned and practiced according to the sacred texts of Islam. It is to be noted that inter
-ethnic marriages were discouraged previously but nowadays it is somewhat accepted and the
same can be considered in the light of my parents. As an individual, I still believe in a joint
family and in the idea of collectiveness as the main driving force of culture and society and
that is how a family becomes a family. It is to be noted that my husband is also similarly
inclined towards the idea of collectivism (Storlie et al., 2019). However, there is one big
difference that I have come to learn about is the shift from adhering to strict cultural values
such as collectivism to the norm and the idea of individualism after moving to United States.

3
GENOGRAM ANALYSIS
Due to the process of acculturation in United States – it is difficult to sustain the idea of
collectivism as in United States, the world has already moved to individualism or at least that
is what it seems (Şahin, 2017)
Response to question B
Religious holidays and cultural festivals are usually celebrated in my family including
weddings and naming ceremonies. Going to the mosque for praying every Friday is important
and we still follow the tradition of the family but not always, due to work it is possible.
Hence praying at home flexibly as we, wife and husband are both working and the
acculturation has made up more flexible as individuals which are still okay with me.
Response to question C
The rules are boundary between male and female members of family, respect for elders,
daily participation in prayer service, charity. The second and last rules are still incorporated
in our current family practice. The third rule has been discarded due to lack of work life
balance and due to long shifting working hours. We share most of the time together that
discards rule one. Overt rules such as having a respectful addressing of each other’s names is
still incorporated.

4
GENOGRAM ANALYSIS
References
Geigges, W., Fritzsche, K., Dobos, C. M., McDaniel, S. H., Zhao, X., Abbo, C., ... & Goli, F.
(2020). Family-Oriented Primary Care. In Psychosomatic Medicine (pp. 71-86).
Springer, Cham.
Şahin, Y. (2017). Using spiritual genograms in family therapies. Spiritual Psychology and
Counseling, 3(1), 47-60.
Sitnik-Warchulska, K., & Izydorczyk, B. (2018). Family patterns and suicidal and violent
behavior among adolescent girls—Genogram analysis. International journal of
environmental research and public health, 15(10), 2067.
Storlie, C. A., Lara Hilton, T. M., McKinney, R., & Unger, D. (2019). Family Career
Genograms: Beginning Life Design With Exploratory Students. The Family
Journal, 27(1), 84-91.