HEXACO vs Big Five – A Comparison and Explanation of Why HEXACO is Better

When comparing HEXACO with Big Five, two of the most popular personality models in psychology, it is important to understand both their similarities and differences. In this article, we highlight the central differences between these two models and why HEXACO emerges as a more advantageous option in many contexts.

Big Five

Appreciation for new experiences, art, emotions, adventure
Self-discipline, dutifulness, planning, organization
Energy, positive emotions, self-confidence, social activity, enthusiasm
Compassionate, cooperative, kindness, empathy
Prone to feelings like anger, anxiety, depression, vulnerability

HEXACO

Fairness, humility, impartiality
Motsatsen till neuroticism
Energy, positive emotions, self-confidence, social activity, enthusiasm, similar to Big Five
Self-discipline, dutifulness, planning, organization, similar to Big Five
Similar to agreeableness in Big Five but includes elements of submission and compliance
Includes dimensions of creativity and curiosity, similar to Big Five

New Dimension: Honesty-Humility

One of the biggest additions in HEXACO is the dimension of Honesty-Humility, which helps measure tendencies such as honesty, humility, and impartiality. This addition makes HEXACO a more powerful tool in areas where ethics and morality are particularly important, such as in legal professions, healthcare, and higher management positions.

Better Behavior Prediction

HEXACO has been shown to be superior in predicting certain types of behaviors, including job performance and ethical violations. The Honesty-Humility dimension is particularly useful for identifying potential risks for dishonest behavior.

Cultural Transferability

Studies have suggested that the HEXACO model may have better cultural transferability compared to Big Five, making it a more suitable choice for international organizations and multicultural studies.

Areas of use

While Big Five is effective for broad, general personality assessments, HEXACO offers specific insights that can be crucial in certain professional and personal contexts. HEXACO is often used in situations where a deeper understanding of morality and ethics is necessary.

Why HEXACO is Better 🎉

HEXACO provides a deeper and more detailed picture of personality, which can be crucial for roles where the finer nuances of personality can impact outcomes and decisions.
By including Honesty-Humility, HEXACO offers a greater ability to predict behaviors and tendencies that are important in many social and professional contexts.
HEXACO’s better cultural transferability makes it an ideal tool for global companies that need to understand and integrate a diverse workforce from different cultural backgrounds.

In summary, HEXACO stands out as a more comprehensive and adaptable tool for personality assessment compared to Big Five. 

Its ability to provide deeper insights and predict specific behaviors makes it a superior model, especially in dynamic and ethically demanding environments.

Magdalena Ståhl

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