HEXACO Character Test: Historic previous, Elements, Benefits, Drawbacks

The HEXACO Character Stock measures six sides of character:

1. Honesty-Humility
2. Emotionality
3. Extraversion
4. Agreeableness (vs. Anger)
5. Conscientiousness
6. Openness to Expertise

Those that full the character take a look at reply statements equivalent to, “I typically go for walks” or “I like to look at tv.” A pc then analyzes the outcomes and offers scores on every of the 6 domains, in addition to 25 sides. Responses are collected and used for analysis functions.

Historical past

The HEXACO Character Stock was developed in 2000 by Canadian psychology professors Kibeom Lee, Ph.D. & Michael C. Ashton, Ph.D.

The stock’s foundations stem from analysis into 5 core character traits. These have been a significant space of examine in psychology by researchers equivalent to Donald Fish within the Nineteen Forties and Dr. Paul Costa and Dr. Robert McCrae within the Nineteen Eighties.

The “Huge 5,” as these core traits are referred to as, served because the theoretical foundation upon which Ashton & Lee created the HEXACO Character Stock.

Since then, the HEXACO Character Take a look at has been used extensively, and has been translated into quite a few languages.

What the Six Sides Imply

Like different character assessments, the HEXACO Character Stock is used to gauge human character throughout a mess of conditions.

There are six major domains that comprise the evaluation.

Right here’s a bit extra about each:

1. Honesty-Humility: Those that rating excessive on this trait seldom break guidelines, hardly ever deceive others for private profit, aren’t serious about luxurious or lavishness, and don’t really feel entitled to a excessive social standing. Conversely, those that rating low have an inflated sense of self-importance, flatter others to get what they want, bend guidelines for private achieve, and are materialistic.
2. Emotionality: Members with excessive scores on this area are likely to expertise extra anxiousness, crave extra emotional assist, really feel deeper empathy in the direction of others, and concern bodily risks. Those that rating low on emotionality aren’t terrified of bodily hurt, really feel extra indifferent from others, expertise little misery, and aren’t inclined to divulge heart’s contents to others.
3. Extraversion: People who rating excessive on extraversion are assured when main others, really feel energized and motivated when interacting with individuals, view themselves in a optimistic gentle, and thrive in social conditions. Those that rating low on this area might consider themselves to be unpopular, really feel depleted in social conditions, really feel uncomfortable once they’re the focus, and don’t expertise as a lot outward enthusiasm and optimism.
4. Agreeableness: Individuals who have excessive scores on this trait are extra inclined to compromise, can handle their mood, choose others with leniency, and may forgive simply. These with low scores are cussed and have a tendency to carry grudges towards those that have damage them, criticize others, and change into angered simply when they’re mistreated.
5. Conscientiousness: People with excessive conscientiousness scores take into account choices rigorously, intention for perfection and accuracy, possess self-discipline when working in the direction of objectives, and are organized with their time and environment. Those that rating low on this area let errors slide, make choices impulsively, don’t give as a lot consideration to their time or environment, and are deterred by difficult objectives or duties.
6. Openness to Expertise: Individuals scoring excessive on this trait are imaginative, drawn in the direction of unconventional individuals or concepts, immerse themselves in nature and artwork, and inquire about totally different data bases. These with low scores aren’t artistic, stray away from radical concepts, aren’t serious about paintings, and don’t expertise mental curiosity.

Every of those six domains has 4 sides, which additional discover how character tendencies might manifest. As an illustration, the Honesty-Humility area has a Sincerity scale, which assesses people’ predisposition for being real of their interpersonal relations.

There’s additionally an Interstitial Scale, unattached to any of the domains, which measures people’ chance of being altruistic vs. antagonistic.

Advantages of the HEXACO Character Stock

Studying extra about one’s character kind may be advantageous. This may also help people perceive why they act the best way they do. Character assessments may also be helpful for psychological well being professionals.

In accordance with Dr. Lee Phillips“We should understand how sufferers deal with their psychological well being problems with concern previous to beginning psychotherapy. Facilitating character assessments offers psychotherapists with the framework for therapy planning and deciding on a therapy modality that may profit the affected person.”

The HEXACO Character Stock Could Be Used to Predict Conduct

Moreover, the HEXACO Character Stock has been correlated to foretell sure behaviors.

In a single examine, researchers discovered that the character take a look at helped decide variations in character traits between numerous educational majors.

One meta-analysis additionally discovered that those that scored increased in Openness to Expertise and Honesty and Humility have been extra more likely to exhibit pro-environmental habits.

Drawbacks of the HEXACO Character Stock

Whereas the HEXACO Character Stock may be helpful, it additionally has its drawbacks. Research have discovered that people finishing character inventories can reply to objects based mostly on social desirability, which means, answering in a way that presents them in a good gentle.

Moreover, though the HEXACO Character Stock has been studied in cross-cultural contexts, it’s tough to generalize outcomes. Kara Nassour, LPC, NCC says,

Lastly, the HEXACO Character can “field” individuals into sure classes, in response to Dr. Michele Goldman of the Hope for Despair Analysis Basis. She additionally says, “Individuals have a tendency to carry onto the notion that their outcomes are fastened and conclusive, however our personalities change and evolve over time.”

A Phrase From Verywell

The HEXACO Character Stock may be helpful in understanding developments in people’ behaviors, ideas, and feelings by measuring six domains. This instrument cannot solely be helpful on the private stage, by permitting somebody to know why they exhibit the qualities they do, however it might additionally help psychological well being professionals, in that they’ll use the scores to tailor therapy to the consumer’s wants.

The HEXACO Character Stock isn’t meant to diagnose any explicit psychological well being situation however can complement a broader therapy plan.