HEXACO model

The HEXACO model is a six-factor framework of personality developed by Kibeom Lee and Michael Ashton in the early 2000s from cross-language lexical research. It sorts people along six broad dimensions, adding an Honesty-Humility factor — sincerity, fairness and modesty versus manipulation and greed — not captured by the older Big Five. Our free course walks through all six traits, shows why researchers added the sixth, and helps you read your own profile.

HEXACO is an empirically supported personality model derived from lexical studies across many languages, and is well regarded in academic personality psychology. Proposed by Ashton & Lee (2004), it adds an Honesty–Humility dimension to the Big Five. (Kibeom Lee & Michael Ashton, early 2000s)

Dimensions

• Honesty-Humility (Self-interested – Sincere) — High scorers are sincere, fair, modest, and avoid greed and manipulation, while low scorers are more inclined to flatter, exploit, and seek status and wealth.
• Emotionality (Detached – Sensitive) — High scorers feel fear, anxiety, and a need for emotional support and attachment more strongly, while low scorers are more emotionally detached and less easily distressed.
• eXtraversion (Reserved – Outgoing) — High scorers feel positive about themselves, enjoy social interaction, and are lively and confident, while low scorers are more reserved, quiet, and socially withdrawn.
• Agreeableness (versus Anger) (Quick-tempered – Forgiving) — High scorers are forgiving, tolerant, gentle, and slow to anger, while low scorers hold grudges, are critical of others, and are more quick-tempered.
• Conscientiousness (Spontaneous – Organised) — High scorers are organised, disciplined, careful, and goal-driven, while low scorers are more impulsive, easygoing, and tolerant of disorder and error.
• Openness to Experience (Conventional – Inquisitive) — High scorers are imaginative, curious, and drawn to art, ideas, and the unconventional, while low scorers prefer the familiar, practical, and conventional.

References

• Ashton, M. C., Lee, K., Perugini, M., Szarota, P., de Vries, R. E., Di Blas, L., Boies, K., & De Raad, B. (2004). A six-factor structure of personality-descriptive adjectives: Solutions from psycholexical studies in seven languages. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
• Lee, K., & Ashton, M. C. (2004). Psychometric properties of the HEXACO Personality Inventory. Multivariate Behavioral Research
• Ashton, M. C., & Lee, K. (2007). Empirical, theoretical, and practical advantages of the HEXACO model of personality structure. Personality and Social Psychology Review

Related topics

• Big Five (Five-Factor Model, OCEAN)
• Eysenck PEN model
• Cattell 16 Personality Factors (16PF)
• Dark Triad / Dark Tetrad
• Light Triad

All topics on ArtaQuest