In the present paper, we stress the importance of the concept respect in a wide variety of social settings and provide a working definition of this concept by emphasizing how respect relates to the act of communicating full recognition to other people on the dimensions of belongingness and morality. Subsequently, in two separate parts, we discuss why respect is so desired and valued. The first part looks at respect as a means to fulfil important human social concerns (“respect as a means to an end”). The second part looks at the potential moral underpinnings of respect and thus interprets “respect as an end in itself.” Finally, it is suggested that both reasons to value respect explain respect effects as a function of the working selfconcept that is salient (i.e., pragmatic versus idealistic self).

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doi.org/10.1007/s11612-007-0036-1, hdl.handle.net/1765/14503
ERIM Article Series (EAS)
Gruppendynamik und Organisationsberatung: Zeitschrift fuer angewandte Sozialpsychologie
Erasmus Research Institute of Management

de Cremer, D., & Mulder, L. (2007). A passion for respect: On understanding the role of human needs and morality. Gruppendynamik und Organisationsberatung: Zeitschrift fuer angewandte Sozialpsychologie, 38(4), 439–449. doi:10.1007/s11612-007-0036-1