When politicians come under fire for missteps or failures, they often rely on the technique of trying to shift the focus onto others. In an attempt to duck responsibility, scrutiny, accountability, they often create "scapegoats" to shift blame onto. They try to lay their failures at the feet of others or make a way to justify them. They may try to shift the debate entirely onto a completely irrelevant and different subject. One example is to make a drastic decision that completely shifts focus from the previous subject of scrutiny onto this new drastic change or subject brought into light by the government. Seen commonly by politicians and on a less refined level , regular people supporting a political party or figure in arguments or debates, or as a psychological attempt to manipulate others in regular domestic situations. In politics the tactic is entirely strategic and is arguably one of the most devious and disreputable in the eyes of honest morality and accountability, but is quite common in politics around the world.

To be socially rejected; To remain apart from, by request of an individual's aunterage or clique.

a way for parents who do not know how to be parents to blame anything and everything for their failure to acceptably raise or discipline their children.

Noun. The act of avoiding receipt of a compliment by changing the subject or playing coy

To deflect the blame of having deficated on someone else.

A way for a woman to reject a man in a beautiful way. The woman will agree with a pleasantry that you express to her, however, she will also say that you would not like this, that, me, etc. because of a flaw or tendency that the woman may or may not have. Thus rejecting your kindness, by way of deflection.

This is when somebody argues by DEFLECTING anything said against them.

They will NEVER address any issues brought against them or their point but will instantly bring something else up to change the subject

Deflective racists use this tactic whenever a situation/fact is brought up that goes against there beliefs

People do this because they know damn well if they try to address the issue or stay relevant to it, there entire argument will get derailed

when someone, in an effort to seem like they care, pronounces your name differently every time you see each other to deflect from the fact you have nothing to talk about or are too busy to remember anything about this person

The state of matter in which you are called up to the board in class with an erection. In a last ditch effort to deflect that which is erect you offer a means of distraction, such as a brick through a window or a pair of inflatable fake boobs.