nonrespect

Nonrespect is a term used to denote the absence of respect or the active rejection of the respect owed to someone or something. Unlike disrespect, which implies a direct negative expression toward a person, nonrespect can refer to a broader range of attitudes and behaviors, including indifference, disregard for rights or status, or failure to acknowledge value or contributions. The term is not widely standardized and appears across disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, political science, and ethics, where it is often used descriptively rather than prescriptively.

In interpersonal relations, nonrespect can manifest as dismissiveness, ignoring boundaries, or failing to acknowledge a person’s autonomy. In institutional settings, it can refer to neglect of norms, traditions, or inclusive practices, and in international contexts to a lack of regard for norms, treaties, or human rights commitments. Some discussions frame nonrespect as a stance that critiques or bypasses established hierarchies, while others view it as a neutral or context-dependent absence of deference.

In moral philosophy, debates about respect for persons center on how individuals ought to be treated. Nonrespect can be analyzed as a failure to meet the standard of treating persons as ends in themselves, or, in some theories, as a deliberate challenge to prevailing norms. The concept is often used to describe attitudes that fall outside conventional categories of respect or disrespect.

Critics note that nonrespect is ambiguous and difficult to define clearly, which can hamper empirical study or normative evaluation. Proponents argue that it helps illuminate attitudes and behaviors that do not fit neatly into existing dichotomies of respect and disrespect.

See also: respect, disrespect, deference, autonomy.