Predicting integrity with the HEXACO personality model: Use of self‐ and observer reports

Abstract

Recent research has suggested that a six‐dimensional model of personality called the HEXACO framework may have particular value in organizational settings because of its ability to predict integrity‐related outcomes. In this series of studies, the potential value of the HEXACO factor known as Honesty‐Humility was further examined. First, the empirical distinctness of this construct from the other major dimensions of personality was demonstrated in a high‐stakes personnel selection situation. Second, Honesty‐Humility was found to predict scores on an integrity test and a business ethical decision‐making task beyond the level of prediction that was possible using measures based on a traditional Big Five model of personality. This finding was also observed when Honesty‐Humility was assessed by familiar acquaintances of the target persons. The applicability of the HEXACO model within industrial and organizational psychology was then discussed.

Agreement and similarity in self-other perceptions of moral character

“…Considering the issue of power and precision, we note that we expect to find moderately large correlations (e.g. rs~ .50), based on the research with the HEXACO scales reviewed above (Ashton & Lee, 2010;Lee et al, 2008;Lee et al, 2009). Given that each of our studies contain more than 300 participants, we will have ample statistical power to detect significant effects.…”

“…To date, there has been no investigation that has examined observer reports of Guilt Proneness or Shame Proneness, so it is an open question as to whether others can detect these personality traits in their acquaintances. Self-other agreement for Honesty-Humility has been investigated in studies assessing the across-reporter validity of the HEXACO model (Ashton & Lee, 2010;Lee et al, 2008;Lee et al, 2009). Ashton and Lee (2010) collected self-and observer reports of HonestyHumility and the other HEXACO dimensions from more than 1,000 college students.…”

“…The addition of the Hfactor as a sixth dimension of personality largely contributes to the predictive advantage of the HEXACO model over traditional five-factor personality frameworks. The HEXACO consistently outperforms the Big Five in predicting unethical business decisions, cheating, delinquency, and sexual harassment, as well as Psychopathy, Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and other variables related to integrity (Ashton & Lee, 2008b;Lee, Ashton, & de Vries, 2005;Lee et al, 2008;Marcus et al, 2007).…”

“…For example, Hershfield, Cohen, and Thompson (2012, Study 4) investigated the likelihood that students would cheat in a laboratory task in which they could earn money and found that HonestyHumility, but not the other HEXACO factors, uniquely predicted cheating. Likewise, Lee and colleagues (2005) found that Honesty-Humility predicted delinquency more strongly than the other five HEXACO dimensions in a variety of international samples, including in Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands (see also, Lee et al, 2008;Marcus et al, 2007).…”

HEXACO personality and Schwartz's personal values: A facet-level analysis

“…In addition to reconfiguring Big 5 neuroticism and agreeableness into HEXACO emotionality and agreeableness (for a discussion, see Ashton, Lee, & de Vries, 2014), the HEXACO model introduces an honesty-humility factor. This factor is demonstrably important for the prediction of certain criteria-typically those that fall within the spectrum of anti-social behaviors-with HEXACO offering substantial incremental validity beyond the Big 5 (e.g., Lee, Ashton, Morrison, Cordery, & Dunlop, 2008;Lee, Gizzarone, & Ashton, 2003). In this research, we adopt the HEXACO model as, for reasons we articulate below, we believe the honesty-humility factor provides important insight into understanding values.…”