If it is in your character, it is not a thought process, it is just done. I was raised where if you did not say Yes Mam, No Mam, Yes Sir, No Sir when spoken too, your head got spun around on your shoulders.
I for one open all doors for my wife, and bark at her if she tries to do it. I cannot stand to see a man walk through a door ahead of his wife, but that's me. I will not shake a mans hand while sitting down, that is just plain ass disrespectful.
If a man cannot treat the one person in his life as such, that puts up with all the bs she more than likely has to put up with, then you really ought to rethink your standards, and bring them up a notch.
Peace
Asmallvoice