Denominator neglect happens when someone focuses on the big picture (the total number of events) while ignoring the actual harm caused by a specific one. In math terms, it's like a fraction: the numerator (top number) is the painful event that affected you, and the denominator (bottom number) is the total number of times something happened. Denominator neglect is used to downplay serious issues by minimizing their impact, shifting blame onto you, or refusing accountability.