The concept structure of respect-related emotions in Japanese University students

Abstract

This study examined the semantic organization of "sonkei" (a feeling of respect) and respect-related emotion words such as "awe" and "admiration" in Japanese university students. Native Japanese university students rated the semantic similarity of 153 pairs of 18 respect-related words having been collected from synonym dictionaries. Hierarchical cluster analysis of similarity ratings revealed two main distinctions at the highest level of abstraction: "person-focus respect, emotional attitude" (sustained respect for a particular person considered to be superior) and "action-focus respect, emotional state" (temporal respect for a praiseworthy action). The former included three basic categories: (a) respect mingled with mild love; (b) idolatry (worship and adoration); and (c) respect mingled with fear (awe). The latter included two basic categories: (d) admiration and (e) respect mingled with surprise (wonder). The word "sonkei" was included in category (a). Also, multidimensional scaling revealed three dimensions of respect-related words: focus, valence, and self-oblivion. These findings suggest that for Japanese university students, respect is typically a kind of emotional attitude, but they sometimes experience respect as an emotional state ("state respect").