Ok, lets play hypotheticals for a minute. Say you're out surfing, and you see a great white. As I understand it, you have to just do your best to not act like/look like prey, so draw your arms and legs up out of the water so your profile doesn't resemble a seal, and that's about it. You will be attacked or not, pretty much entirely at the discretion of the animal.
What does your attitude towards the animal have to do with the situation? What behavior changes if you 'respect' the animal or you 'fear' the animal? Websters offers a few definitions for Respect including 'a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way.' In this regard, I think when we respect the animal, we are acknowledging the power differential between us and the animal, as well as the gamble we accept when we do such things as surf in areas known to have great whites.