We aren't born respecting others. Instead, we begin life highly concerned with our own lives and hardly aware of the needs of others. As we mature, however, others come into the picture more. Over time, we are supposed to learn that others' needs and feelings are important. But this is a learned ability, not an innate one. Sometimes a person will date someone who seems very respectful at first. They listen, acknowledge the others' opinions, and will often defer to them. Then, as the couple gets more comfortable, the respect seems to dissipate, and the other person feels devalued or put down. The hurt person will often wonder, how did he lose the respect he had for my feelings? Did familiarity breed contempt? The reality is different. Respectful people don't lose respect over time, they increase it. As the relationship deepens, they are connected with that much more of the person, and respect those additional parts of the person. They may become more comfortable and casual, but they still care about the feelings of the other person. This is a character trait. It is stable and is not dependant on situations. So people who seem to stop respecting you over time, in all likelihood, have never had true respect for others' needs and feelings. They may be socialized on the outside, knowing etiquette and the rules of society, but their heart is still bent on getting their way. So if you notice disrespect inscreasing, you are probably instead seeing something that was hidden beginning to manifest itself.