Notation legend
Ecomap symbols
The complete Hartman-standard legend. Two things carry all the meaning in an ecomap: the line style, which shows relationship quality, and the arrows, which show the direction of energy flow.
Connection lines
The style of the line between the center and a system shows the quality of that relationship.
Strong / close
A thick solid line. A robust, supportive, dependable relationship — the connections you want a client to have more of.
Moderate / average
A medium-weight solid line. A functional, ordinary connection that is neither a major strength nor a concern.
Weak / tenuous
A thin dashed line. The relationship exists but is fragile, new, distant, or underused — often a place to build.
Stressful
A line crossed with short hatch marks. The connection is a source of strain or burden, even if it is not openly hostile.
Conflictual
A jagged, zigzag line. Active conflict or serious tension — a relationship marked by disputes or hostility.
Broken / severed
An interrupted line with cut-off bars. A relationship that has been cut, lost, or estranged — sometimes a protective, positive break.
Energy-flow arrows
Arrows sit on the connection lines and show which way support, resources, and energy move.
Resources flow in
The arrow points toward the center. The system gives support, care, or resources to the person.
Energy flows out
The arrow points away from the center. The person gives more than they receive — a common sign of caregiver strain or depletion.
Mutual exchange
A double-headed arrow. Support flows both ways — a balanced, reciprocal relationship.
The symbols together
One client, six systems, all six line styles and every arrow direction in a single map. See these read in context on the ecomap examples page.
Frequently asked questions
What do the lines on an ecomap mean?
Each line's style shows the quality of a relationship: a thick solid line is a strong connection, a thin or dashed line is weak or tenuous, a hatched line is stressful, a jagged line is conflictual, and an interrupted line is a broken or severed relationship. Arrows on the lines show the direction that support and energy flow.
What do the arrows on an ecomap mean?
Arrows show the direction of resource or energy flow. An arrow pointing toward the center means the system gives to the person; an arrow pointing outward means the person gives more than they receive; a double-headed arrow means a mutual, two-way exchange. Reading the arrows reveals whether a client is being sustained or depleted.
Who created ecomap notation?
The ecomap and its notation were developed by social work educator Ann Hartman in 1975 as a way to diagram a family's ecological context. The line and arrow conventions on this page are the widely taught Hartman standard used across social work, family therapy, and nursing.
Is there a standard set of ecomap symbols?
Yes — the core Hartman set (strong, weak, stressful, and conflictual lines plus energy-flow arrows) is consistent across textbooks and practice settings. Some programs add extra line styles for relationships like enmeshment or ambivalence, but the strength-and-flow legend on this page is the shared foundation, and it's exactly what Ecomap Creator draws.
Every symbol, built into the app
Ecomap Creator draws all of this notation for you on iPad — pick a line style, set the flow direction, done. Then export to PDF.
Download for iPad — free trial