Abstract
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).
Zusammenfassung
Im vorliegenden Beitrag unterstreichen wir die Bedeutung des Respektkonzepts für eine Vielzahl sozialer Situationen. Wir geben eine Arbeitsdefinition vor, in der wir betonen, dass Respekt die volle Anerkennung anderer Personen über Dimensionen der Zugehörigkeit und der Moral kommuniziert. Danach, diskutieren wir in zwei Abschnitten, warum Respekt begehrt und gewertschätzt wird. Der erste Abschnitt fokussiert auf „Respekt als ein Mittel zum Zweck“, um wichtige menschliche soziale Belange zu erfüllen. Der zweite Teil fokussiert auf den möglichen moralischen Unterbau von Respekt und interpretiert „Respekt als ein Zweck in sich selbst“. Schließlich, wird vorgeschlagen, dass diese beiden Gründe Respekt wertzuschätzen die Effekte von Respekt im Sinne einer Funktionserfüllung des jeweils salienten Selbst-Konzeptes (also, ideales versus pragmatisches Selbst) erklären können.
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David De Cremer is Professor of Social Psychology at Tilburg University and director of Center for Justice and Social Decision Making (JuST, www.centerofjust.org). His current research interests are social dilemmas and 2-person games, social justice, trust repair, leadership and power, and behavioral economics. He has edited two books on “Social Psychology and Economics” (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates) and “Advances in the Psychology of Justice and Affect” (Information Age Publishing).
Laetitia B. Mulder is Assistant Professor of Social Psychology at Tilburg University. Her research interests are social decision making, sanctions and rewards, moral norms, compliance, and norm internalization.
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De Cremer, D., Mulder, L.B. A passion for respect: On understanding the role of human needs and morality. Gruppendynamik 38, 439–449 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11612-007-0036-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11612-007-0036-1