In a world that is full of different people and varying opinions, there needs to be a framework that helps to avoid or work through conflict. Some may bring up the idea of respect as a foundation of human relationships. Respect can be described in many ways, as it is a combination of behaviors towards oneself and others. However, in general, it is the appreciation of one another’s thoughts and actions and the value and regard of qualities and capacities that one possesses. Simply put, when showing respect, people allow each other to express themselves in the ways they want, provide space and safety to make individual choices, and be honest in actions and words. The importance of respect in people’s lives is foundational, and the reasons behind it can be explained from both a moral and logical point of view.
First, one has to understand that self-respect is an inherent part of respect towards others, and it also impacts society’s understanding of the latter concept. By characterizing one’s values and recognizing both strengths and weaknesses gives a person an ability to interact with the world honestly. Thus, respecting oneself protects a person from making potentially harmful choices or enabling oneself to succumb to the negative influences of other people. For example, a person wishes to choose a profession or a path of life that is different from the status quo in their community. In this case, their self-respect provides them with the strength needed not to succumb to the opposition – they recognize that they possess the ability to do what they want to the extent of not harming others.
Moreover, by building up self-respect, a person may also understand why it is also vital to respect other people. The idea of respect is difficult to challenge on the moral ground, as it is rooted in the appreciation of others and another fundamental human concept – equity. As respect implies allowing people to make their decisions and living as they want to, it opens up the possibility of living with dignity. Thus, it may be argued that, from the point of morality, respect is vital to building successful relationships and ensuring that people are treated with equity and justice in mind.
Human beings who respect one another also satisfy their emotional needs of recognition, belonging, and love, which can become the foundation for a logical argument showing the vital place of respect. If one imagines a world where respect for one another is non-existent, it becomes apparent that such a world would be filled with conflict. In contrast, respect for people also leads to humility and recognition of others’ values, which acts as a transformative force. By recognizing each others’ and own emotional needs, people build the foundation for peace and transform their understanding of community and conflict resolution.
Overall, respect plays a role in all areas of people’s lives, including one’s inner world. Self-respect can influence a person’s self-appreciation, goal setting, ambition, and resilience. Nevertheless, the most influential aspect of respect is that it contributes to human relationships, allowing people to build meaningful connections. It provides humans with a way to encourage conflict resolution or peace establishment. The absence of respect, in turn, can lead to devastating consequences. In the end, respect creates opportunities, supports communities, and enhances one’s realization of both personal and group identity.