Fokusfehler

Fokusfehler, literally “focus error” in German, is a term used across fields to describe a misalignment between what is being attended to and what should be attended to. In optics and photography, a focus error occurs when the lens fails to render a sharp image on the intended plane; causes include misfocusing, incorrect focal length, shallow depth of field, motion, or calibration drift of autofocus systems. In cognitive psychology and decision making, der Fokusfehler denotes a bias where attention is disproportionately drawn to a salient feature or outcome, while other relevant information is overlooked, leading to distorted judgments. This can manifest as overemphasizing recent events, focusing on easily recalled details instead of base rates, or narrowing problem framing to a single criterion.

In media studies and communication, Fokusfehler describes a tendency to center reporting on a single aspect of a story, which can skew public perception and policy discussion if other relevant dimensions are underreported. In product design and usability, focusing on one metric such as speed or cost can create Fokusfehler that degrade usability, security, or accessibility when ignored.

Mitigation strategies include systematized checks and diverse perspectives: in optics, routine calibration, manual focus checks, and using depth of field previews; in cognition, structured decision processes, consideration of base rates, and red-team or devil’s-advocate reviews; in media, editorial standards requiring balanced sourcing and framing; in design, requirements that explicitly address multiple quality attributes. The term remains informal in many contexts, serving as a reminder to align attention with the intended objective.