-25 2.8. Look at resources and strengths, not only deficits Meaning of the principle - the basic idea While the previous principles have focused on better understanding systemic failures and problems, this principle explicitly looks at the strengths and resources that exist in any system. This is an important complementary perspective to the deficit-oriented view which is still the default mode to analyze and seek change of the social world. Such a perspective allows to appreciate the existing state of affairs, to bring to light the positive things that have not been seen before, with a view to best using them for achieving the desired goal. Moreover, a focus on resources has a well proven energizing effect.37 Application of the principle in preventive monitoring This principle can have a very strong effect on preventive monitoring and, more generally, in human rights practice. Human rights monitoring risks to conclude with a long list of deficiencies identified, often entailing a depressing view of the situation. Such conclusion is highly discouraging for the authorities operating under difficult circumstances but can also have a negative effect on the energy of the monitoring team, thus leading to a ‘monitoring fatigue’ on both sides. Moreover, a deficit focus risks to lose sight of the aspects that work well and on which change could be built. On the other hand, we have made the experience that even in a situation where authorities claimed to be helpless vis-à-vis a problem focusing on strengths and resources could help. In the case of prison violence, focusing on what works well can bring to light already existing positive approaches of de-escalation and motivate authorities by showing that change is possible. Preventive monitoring practice is clearly aware of the necessity of integrating a focus on resources. The SPT explicitly exhorts NPMs to identify good practices and to include them in their reports.38 And many NPMs already include references to good practices in their visiting and/ or annual reports. Such a focus is highly important in view of the need to establish a constructive dialogue with the authorities. 37. Whitney/Trosten-Bloom, 67 et seq. 38. CAT/OP/1/Rev.1, para. 30. Systemic Thinking in Preventive Human Rights Monitoring