Establishing the structure and replicability of personality profiles using the HEXACO-PI-R

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Personality Science
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Previous research on personality profiles within the Five-Factor Model and HEXACO (Hierarchical Factor Model of Personality) has yielded inconsistent findings.
• The HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-PI-R) is a widely used measure for assessing personality traits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and validate a stable personality profile structure within the HEXACO model.
• To examine the replicability and generalizability of the identified personality profiles across different demographic groups and sample sizes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from four independent, large-scale international samples (approx. 90,000 respondents each) using the 100-item HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-PI-R).
• Exploratory and confirmatory analyses to determine the optimal number of personality profiles.
• Investigation of profile consistency across gender and age, and assessment of replicability with varying sample sizes.

Main Results:

• A five-profile solution demonstrated a good fit to the data across all large samples.
• The five-profile structure showed consistency across gender and age groups.
• While the structure replicated well in larger subsamples, it was less consistent in samples smaller than 500 individuals, though it remained applicable using parameters from larger samples.

Conclusions:

• A robust five-profile personality structure exists within the HEXACO model, validated by large international datasets.
• The identified profiles offer a stable framework for personality research, with practical implications for applying these findings even with smaller sample sizes.
• Preliminary explanations for the profiles are proposed, integrating HEXACO theory with agency-communion and attachment theories, paving the way for further validation and application research.