Deficit-focused

Adjective describing an approach, strategy, or mindset that centers on identifying and addressing deficiencies, shortcomings, or negative aspects within a system, organization, or individual. This term is often used in the context of financial, educational, or psychological evaluations, emphasizing the need to prioritize areas needing improvement.

Deficit-focused meaning with examples

• In her deficit-focused teaching style, the educator emphasized correcting students' weaknesses rather than building on their strengths, inadvertently stifling their creativity and passion for learning.
• The company's deficit-focused strategy revealed a startling lack of investment in employee well-being, leading to high turnover rates and a drained company culture that suffered from low morale.
• During the economic downturn, policymakers adopted a deficit-focused approach, primarily honing in on budget cuts which left many vital programs underfunded and struggling to meet community needs.
• In therapy, a deficit-focused methodology can sometimes overshadow the patient’s existing strengths, making it harder for individuals to appreciate their own resilience and capacity for growth.
• The audit report was criticized for being overly deficit-focused, as it highlighted past mistakes while ignoring the innovative strategies the company had implemented to improve its overall performance.