What Is a Triangle in a Family?

A triangle is a three-person relationship system. It is considered the building block or “molecule” of larger emotional systems because a triangle is the smallest stable relationship system. A two-person system is unstable because it tolerates little tension before involving a third person.

What is a triangle in a relationship?

A triangle relationship is a complex love situation in which there are more than two people romantically involved. A triangle relationship means that there is a sexual and/or emotional attachment between two people, with one of them being involved with another person.

What is a triangle on a genogram?

In a standard genogram, there are three different type of children: biological/natural child, adopted child and foster child. A triangle is used to represent a pregnancy, miscarriage and abortion. In the case of a miscarriage, a diagonal cross to indicate the death of the fetus is drawn on top of the triangle.