How Respect Is Shown in Relationships: Signs

11.02.2025 10:10

"He silently washes dishes at 2am: 5 actions that are more important than the words "I respect you""

Bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman, states:

"Respect is the oxygen of a relationship. Without it, love suffocates."

A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that couples where partners value personal boundaries are four times less likely to argue.

Sign 1: Active listening without interrupting

DBT therapist Marsha Linehan emphasizes:

pair
Photo: Pixabay

"Listening means giving space for thoughts."

A couple from Sochi who introduced a “3-minute no-objection” rule for arguments reduced conflicts by 70%.

Sign 2: Supporting goals, even strange ones

When Oleg from Tyumen wanted to leave his office for the farm, his wife did not ridicule him.

“She said: ‘Try it, and if anything happens, I’m with you.’”

Psychologist Adam Grant writes:

"Believing in your partner's dreams is the highest form of respect."

Sign 3: Ability to apologize without “but”

Dr. Harriet Lerner, in her book, Apology Is Powerful, notes:

"A real 'sorry' contains no excuses."

Example: blogger Diana publicly apologized to her husband for a harsh post, without adding “you provoked it yourself.”

Sign 4: Respect for personal time

A couple from Kaliningrad, where the husband goes fishing and the wife goes on spa days, believes:

"Spending time apart brings us closer."

Psychologist Esther Perel jokes:

"Passion lives in the space between you."

Sign 5: Caring without reminders

"He puts the kettle on when he sees I'm tired," says Irina from Moscow. Such small things, according to research by The Gottman Institute , increase marital satisfaction by 33%.

Author: Valeria Kisternaya Editor of Internet resources

Content
  1. Sign 1: Active listening without interrupting
  2. Sign 2: Supporting goals, even strange ones
  3. Sign 3: Ability to apologize without “but”
  4. Sign 4: Respect for personal time
  5. Sign 5: Caring without reminders