Behavior in rule-based cultures is based on respect for rules. This is not to say that rule-based cultures have rules and relationship-based cultures do not; both do. Rule-based cultures are distinguished by two characteristics: (a) people respect the rules for their own sake, while rules in relationship-based cultures derive their authority from the persons who lay them down; and (b) compliance with rules is often encouraged by guilt feelings and fear of punishment if one happens to be caught violating the rules, rather than shame and constant supervision. Because personal relationships are relatively unimportant in the enforcement of rules, the rules tend to be spelled out explicitly, and people are taught to pay attention to them. The result is low-context communication. One can now begin to see why high- and low-context communication styles are, at root, contrasting approaches to regulating behavior.