Respect

Respect is a positive feeling or a deferential action. It is shown toward someone or something held in high esteem. This feeling often conveys admiration for valuable qualities. Respect also involves a process of honoring others. This process includes showing care, concern, or consideration for their needs. In many cultures, people are considered worthy of respect by default. However, some people must earn special respect through exemplary actions. These specific societies are often called "honor cultures."

Language provides many tools for expressing respect. One common tool is the honorific. An honorific is a title or expression used when addressing a person. Examples include the title "Doctor" or specific pronoun forms. Some languages even use anti-honorific forms for the speaker. These forms, like calling oneself a "humble servant," increase the honor given to others. In Japan, failing to use polite language and honorifics with higher-status people is disrespectful. In China, calling someone by their first name can be considered rude. People often use titles in work settings. At home, they may use nicknames or kinship terms. In Chinese culture, friends might address each other as "seniors" or "juniors" based on age. People may even ask a person's age to determine the correct way to address them.

Physical gestures are another way to communicate respect. These actions vary greatly across different parts of the world. In Islamic cultures, people may kiss the hands of parents or teachers. Respect is also shown through the care of sacred objects. For example, Muslims treat the Quran with great care. It is forbidden to place the book on the floor or handle it with unclean hands. In India, respect is shown through the gesture of pranāma. This involves touching the feet of others, such as grandparents. In this culture, feet are seen as a source of love and power. If a foot accidentally touches a book or money, an apology is required. The person touches the object with their fingertips and then their forehead or chest.

Cultural rules for bowing and greetings are very specific. In China, bowing is usually reserved for ancestors and elders. A person places their right fist in their left palm at stomach level. The depth of the bow indicates the level of respect shown. There is also a practice called kowtowing. This involves kneeling and bowing so deeply that the forehead touches the floor. Kowtowing is a powerful gesture used for worship or honoring the dead. In Japan, certain Western gestures might be seen as disrespectful. For instance, one should not point directly at a person. When greeting others, the person with lower status must bow lower than the person with higher status.

Some cultures use specific social codes to manage respect. In Chinese culture, the virtue of filial piety is very important. This involves showing respect to family, elders, and ancestors. Younger people are expected to defer to older people in many ways. They might let elders speak first or sit down after them. They might also avoid contradicting older people. When an older person enters a room, others may stand up. People are often introduced in order from oldest to youngest. Younger individuals might also open doors for elders. In many African and West Indian descent communities, respect can be signified by touching fists.

Philosophers have also studied respect as a moral virtue. Immanuel Kant was a notable philosopher who wrote about this. In his 1785 work, he made respect a core part of his Categorical Imperative. He argued that we should treat humanity always as an end and never merely as a means. This means treating people as valuable in themselves. Respect is seen as a character strength that guides how people interact.

In many Indigenous American societies, respect is a vital moral value. It is a process that helps people join their community. This value is taught to children during their early years. Children learn to show respect through participation in community activities. These activities include cooking for the family or cleaning the house. They may also help with crop work or care for infant peers. By participating in these tasks, children learn about their culture. They practice respect by contributing to the lives of others. This helps them become integrated members of their society.