why respect is importantgoing back in time, respect played an important role in survival. if we think of a small tribe wandering in the desert,we can imagine that a person not respected by anyone could be left behind and die. such a person was considered to have no worth, no importance, no value to the group.

　　this, i believe is the foundation of our psychological need to feel respected.

　　nowadays it seems much more possible to survive without being respected. someone could, for example, inherit a large sum of money, have many servants and employees and have salesmen constantly calling on him and catering to him,yet not be respected in the least. someone could also make a lot of money through having a particular talent which is valued, such as being able to dunk a basketball yet not really be respected, perhaps because of the way he treats others.

　　still, there is a value to respect which money cant buy.

　　though someones life might not depend on it, there are times, many times in fact, when another person has the chance to make a personal decision--a judgment call. when that person feels sincere respect for someone else, they will make a different decision than if they feel no respect, even if they have customarily shown a false, pseudo-respect to the person.

　　in summary, it is for both evolutionary and practical reasons that respect is important, and also why we simply feel better when we are respected.

　why respect is importantgoing back in time, respect played an important role in survival. if we think of a small tribe wandering in the desert,we can imagine that a person not respected by anyone could be left behind and die. such a person was considered to have no worth, no importance, no value to the group.

　　this, i believe is the foundation of our psychological need to feel respected.

　　nowadays it seems much more possible to survive without being respected. someone could, for example, inherit a large sum of money, have many servants and employees and have salesmen constantly calling on him and catering to him,yet not be respected in the least. someone could also make a lot of money through having a particular talent which is valued, such as being able to dunk a basketball yet not really be respected, perhaps because of the way he treats others.

　　still, there is a value to respect which money cant buy.

　　though someones life might not depend on it, there are times, many times in fact, when another person has the chance to make a personal decision--a judgment call. when that person feels sincere respect for someone else, they will make a different decision than if they feel no respect, even if they have customarily shown a false, pseudo-respect to the person.

　　in summary, it is for both evolutionary and practical reasons that respect is important, and also why we simply feel better when we are respected.