Deference can be associated with kindness or courtesy.
Deference is a concept used to name a testimony or demonstration that reflects respect or gratitude towards someone. The etymology of the term derives from the sum of three Latin elements: the prefix de- , which is used to indicate "from top to bottom" ; the verb fero , which is synonymous with "carry" ; and the suffix -encia , which indicates "action or quality of an agent."
Deference, however, can be understood as something that transcends politeness and approaches condescension . In these cases, deference implies joining a thought or behavior that is foreign, just to look good to the person responsible.
For example: "I appreciate the deference you have shown in coming to my house to talk about this matter," "I don't understand your attitude: Marta had the deference to let you know that she was going to resign a month in advance and you respond to her with yells and insults" , "I do not tolerate deference towards a person who has treated you so badly" .
What is deference
Starting from that meaning, we could say that deference is, therefore, synonymous with words such as kindness, compliance, attention, gentleness or consideration . On the contrary, its antonyms include rudeness, contempt, insolence, impertinence, impudence, imprudence or irreverence.
In other contexts, deference is a kind action performed by a person who is in a higher position than the recipient of the act. This superiority can be hierarchical, strength, status or another kind.
Some examples
Suppose a professional tennis player faces an amateur. If he played to the best of his abilities, the professional would crush the amateur and the match would last a few minutes. The professional player, however, may have the courtesy to regulate his strength so that the match is more even and the amateur can have fun and compete.
Another example that we can use to better explain the term is when the king receives a very humble gift from some of the citizens of his country. In that case, he accepts it, while thanking them, as a sign of deference. This would be a case in which deference is carried out between individuals of different social ranks.
Likewise, deference appears when a famous singer decides to visit a radio program made by journalism students that is broadcast from a small community station. The artist knows that his visit will not generate income in terms of dissemination, but he has the courtesy to participate in the program out of respect for those who carry it out with effort.
Respect and kindness are about deference.
Doctrine of judicial deference
We cannot also ignore that there is what is known as the doctrine of judicial deference towards the executive.
It is typical of the United States and, among other issues, it leaves on the table that the courts must give deference to the interpretation given by the pertinent administrative agency in matters of legal texts and as long as it has managed to pass what is known as the test. of reasonableness .