Choose the right relationship line
The editor offers fifteen relationship lines, which range from connected and close to hostile, cutoff and abuse. This article explains how to change the kind of an existing line and how the lines differ in meaning.
The relationship lines fall into five groups, and the list in the editor is arranged by these groups. The lines of connection show increasing closeness, and the lines of distance and conflict show strain. The cutoff lines show that contact has ended or has been restored, the lines of focus and care show attention directed at one person, and the abuse lines show harm.
The editor also distinguishes the lines by colour. It draws distance, conflict, cutoff, negative focus and abuse in red, and the remaining lines in blue.
Procedure
- 1
Click the relationship line on the canvas. A toolbar appears above the line.
- 2
Click the name of the line in the toolbar. The list of lines opens.
- 3
Click the kind of line that describes the relationship. The line on the canvas changes at once.
- 4
If the line has an arrowhead that points at the wrong person, click Swap direction in the toolbar.
Click Explain in the key on the canvas to show a short definition beside each symbol and line that the chart uses.
Lines of connection
The three lines of connection differ in degree. Close describes a warm and supportive relationship, whereas Fused describes one so close that the two people have difficulty thinking or acting independently of each other, a pattern that is often called enmeshment.
Lines of distance and conflict
Distant describes a relationship with little warmth or contact, and Hostile describes one in which conflict predominates. Close-hostile and Fused-hostile are used when a close or fused relationship is also marked by conflict.
Cutoff lines
Cutoff shows that two people have ended contact with each other, which is a stronger statement than Distant. Cutoff repaired shows that contact was ended and has since been restored.
Lines of focus and care
These lines have a direction, and the arrowhead points at the person who receives the attention or the care. Focused on describes attention concentrated on one person, and Focused on negatively describes attention that is critical or hostile. Caretaker describes a person who looks after the other.
Abuse lines
The abuse lines point at the person who was harmed, and their use is described in Show abuse and who it is aimed at. The editor draws Physical abuse in the same way as Focused on negatively, so a label on the line is advisable wherever either of them is used.
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