Respect is regard for or a perception of a person's value or greatness. There are some things in life that you must respect. Respect for oneself, for others, and for one's possessions. Respect is taught to individuals all throughout the world, and it is even taught in their faiths. Without respect, there can be no advancement in society. Here are some examples of what some people think respect means: For some, respect means obeying someone else. They believe that to be respected, others need to be allowed their way. Others may feel humiliated if they aren't given their own way. They think that being respectful will get them what they want. Some parents try to instill this belief in their children by using punishment instead of reward. This approach fails because punishment only teaches people how to behave according to what they perceive as acceptable behavior toward themselves. For others, respect means giving other people freedom to make their own choices. If someone decides not to accept someone else's choice, then that person isn't being respectful. Being respectful means allowing others to have control over their own lives. For still others, respect means acting with honor and dignity. They believe that nobody should be treated badly or dishonored. They think that being respectful means treating others with kindness and courtesy. The meaning of respect varies from person to person.