Human Assets

The Big 5 model of personality has become something of an 'industry standard' over the past decade. However, recently a group of researchers have suggested the addition of an extra dimension. They say including Honesty-Humility might provide a better summary of personality than the Big 5 alone. They have championed the HEXACO model, consisting of Honesty-Humility and the Big 5 factors of Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness and Openness.

Interestingly, the new dimension has been shown to bear a quite strong relationship both to overt self-report measures of integrity and to a test of ethical decision-making. While this research was with students rather than in the work context, the HEXACO personality inventory might be particularly relevant to employers looking to select people who are unlikely to 'skate on thin ice' with respect to their ethics. It can also be used to select those who generally err in the direction of being humble.

 

At the same time, users of the HEXACO measure might benefit from its modification of the Emotionality scale from that contained in the Big 5. The emotionality scale is different to the Big 5 emotional stability by having socially desirable and undesirable content at both of its poles, presumably making it less subject to distortion. The Agreeableness scale is also different in the HEXACO model, as it contains elements of anger and hostility that appear elsewhere in the Big 5.

 

Employers for whom Honesty-Humility is important should consider trialling the HEXACO inventory to see if it lives up to its promise. They might also consider administering a more direct measure of ethical decision-making with a situational judgement test (SJT) directed at this important facet of behaviour. Likewise, they might design and pilot an SJT of humility.

 

 

As psychologists, we are able to advise you on the best model of personality for your particular needs. We do not publish any inventories ourselves and so we can offer you entirely impartial advice. For further information please contact Charles...

 

 

Lee, K., et al. Predicting integrity with the HEXACO personality model: Use of self- and observer reports. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, Vol 81, Part 1, March 2008, ps 147-167.