Conceptualizations of respect: qualitative and quantitative evidence of four (five) themes

Respect is a term used frequently in the vernacular and psychological literature. However, frequency of use has not yielded a coherent body of psychological research on the topic, perhaps because of its elusive and contextual nature. Examining the divergent literature on respect yields 4 general themes in how it is conceptualized: (a) social rules, (b) equality, (c) caring, and (d) social power. In this study, the author used qualitative and quantitative assessment to explore the soundness of these themes. The 4 themes emerged in each of the different methods, and there was evidence of convergence of the themes across methods. A 5th unexpected theme, personal attributes, was revealed in the qualitative measures. This study provides an empirical foundation for acknowledging the complexity and potential importance of respect. Understanding the thematic variability in how respect is conceptualized will improve research, theory, and application.