For other uses, see Submission (disambiguation).

For the legal doctrine, see Judicial deference.

"Deferential" and "Submission" redirect here. Not to be confused with Difference (disambiguation) or Differential (disambiguation).

Deference (also called submission or passivity) is the condition of submitting to the espoused, legitimate influence of one's superior or superiors. Deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior out of respect or reverence. Deference has been studied extensively by political scientists, sociologists, and psychologists.