Family trees usually show the prevalence of people to acquire traits using an intergenerational genogram. In most cases, genes are typically transferred from one generation to another irrespective of the fact that at one point, a particular gene may not be seen in a previous generation but still appear in subsequent generations. Notably, a family genogram should give an overview of the health, ethnic group, behavior, and health of a given member concerning their family. Therefore, this paper aims at analyzing a family genogram in the plight of investigating family history, health, the family members’ ethnic groups, reproductive history, development, family understanding of the health risks and a summary of the genogram.

Multigenerational transmitted characteristics are viable in analyzing the behavior of an individual. Joy Cruz, a patient who portrays a high level of narcissistic behavior, is the central point for the family genogram study in this case (American Psychiatric Association., 2013). Ann, Joy Cruz’s mother, is a sibling in the family of Cruz. B.B and T.B got a son by the name who did not show any social or psychologically weird characteristics. Tom Cruz being a Pilot, met his wife Ann Cruz who and had his most preferred features (Fisher, 2016). They bore a child and named her Joy Cruz who is now seven years old with so many vague characteristics (Fisher, 2016). Tom and Ann Cruz later divorced after Tom blamed Ann of the unbecoming characteristics of their daughter. Joy is so narcissistic and nervous in all her undertakings (Becvar & Becvar, 2012). From the family genogram, narcissism is a character that has genetically been carried from her grandfather B.B. It is clear that Joy Cruz’s behavior is as a result of the multigenerational process. The behavior of Joy Cruz is surprising since the narcissistic behavior was a character of her paternal grandfather (Albrecht, Kirschner & Grusser, 2007).

Bowen’s theory and the study of emotional interdependence offer a precise platform for studying family history. J. J 70 years old is the son of G. J and M. J and he displays unworthy characteristics that seem to be inherited from her mother M.J. He is a teacher at the time when he was sacked for failing to control his temper during the performance of his duties in school. He became jobless for sometimes until the time he decided to start a business that is he is still doing at the moment. He married C.J a Black-American air hostess from the family union of R. M. M who is a retired lawyer 89 years old and G. G. M an African-American psychologist 87 years old. C. J’s parents had no traces of psychological problems R. M. M is suffering from hypertension and diabetes. C. J displays some traces of high blood pressure, and she sometimes has unbalanced mood change. The union of C. J and M. J is more problematic to the extent that M. J started to misuse drugs to save him from the problems that he faces in his family.

Behavior management can be achieved by carrying an individual through psychotherapy. B.B displays narcissism and self-centeredness that was transmitted primarily from his mother. He is the half cast and is more of being a black- American than being a white. The fact that he emerged a black person haunts him, and he tends to hate his nature because of the slight segregation he experienced in high school during his teenage years (Fisher, 2016).  He displays slightly similar traits of his mother. He did not portray any traces of hypertension or diabetes, but she had traces of narcissism.

Health history shows that psychosocial and physical problems started earlier in the family. A relationship pattern that occurred between B.B and T.B are as follows: B.B married T.B a 42-year-old nurse from the family of T. M 71-year-old engineer and S.M 69-year-old housewife. The two had no traces of psychological and physical problems. Joy Cruz who is at the bottom of the genogram shows a high prevalence of psychosocial challenges. She portrays physical aggression, a severe unintentional violation of rules, narcissistic behavior, antisocial behaviors, destructive outburst, failing to resist aggression, exceeded reasonable response aggression, resentfulness and lack of desirable social behavior. The above reactions are found to be repetitive and have impaired his social and academic excellence (Pomeroy, 2015).

In conclusion, Family history, health, the family members’ ethnic groups, reproductive history, development, family understanding of the health risks and a summary of the genogram describes behaviors in a family. It is clear that a family genogram shows justifiable reasons why a family member can depict a character that was once shown by a family member across the family tree. For instance, Joy Cruz has narcissistic behavior that was experienced by her grandmother. Physical aggression, vulnerability to stress and other health complications are transferable.

References

Albrecht, U., Kirschner, N. E., & Grusser, S. M. (2007). Diagnostic instruments for behavioral addiction: An overview. German Medical Science Psycho-Social-Medicine, 4, 1–11. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2736529/

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC.

Becvar, D. S., & Becvar, R. J. (2012). Family therapy: A systemic integration. Pearson Higher Ed.

Fisher, M. A. (2016). The ethical ABCs of conditional confidentiality. In Confidentiality limits in psychotherapy: Ethics checklists for mental health professionals (pp. 13–25). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/14860-002

Pomeroy, E. (2015).  The clinical assessment workbook:  Balancing strengths and differential diagnosis. Psychiatric Times.