HEXACO vs. Big Five: Key Differences
The Big Five model and the HEXACO model are two of the most widely used frameworks in modern personality psychology. While they share many similarities, the HEXACO model introduces important refinements—especially in understanding ethics, emotionality, and interpersonal behavior. This article outlines the major distinctions between the two and explains when and why HEXACO may offer a deeper view of human personality.
Overview of Both Models
The Big Five Model (OCEAN)
Developed through factor analysis of trait-descriptive words, the Big Five (also called the Five-Factor Model or OCEAN) proposes that personality consists of five broad dimensions:
- Openness to Experience
- Conscientiousness
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Neuroticism (emotional instability)
The HEXACO Model
The HEXACO model, proposed by Ashton and Lee in the early 2000s, expanded on the Big Five by analyzing a broader range of cross-cultural data and incorporating an additional factor: Honesty-Humility. It reorganized some trait groupings and offered a more nuanced understanding of emotional and ethical behavior.
- Honesty-Humility
- Emotionality
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Conscientiousness
- Openness to Experience
Key Differences Between HEXACO and Big Five
1. Addition of Honesty-Humility
This is the most significant distinction. Honesty-Humility measures sincerity, fairness, greed avoidance, and modesty—qualities that are not explicitly covered in the Big Five. High scorers tend to avoid manipulation and status-seeking. Low scorers may be narcissistic, dishonest, or exploitative.
This trait is strongly predictive of ethical behavior, integrity, and reduced risk for what psychologists call the “Dark Triad” traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy).
2. Redefined Emotionality vs. Neuroticism
In the Big Five, Neuroticism refers to emotional instability, including anxiety, sadness, and mood swings. HEXACO’s Emotionality overlaps but also includes sentimentality and dependence, while excluding traits like anger (which are moved under low Agreeableness in HEXACO).
This makes HEXACO’s Emotionality more about vulnerability and empathetic bonding, whereas Big Five Neuroticism is more about volatility.
3. Reorganization of Agreeableness
In HEXACO, Agreeableness is more clearly separated from Emotionality and focuses specifically on forgiveness, patience, flexibility, and tolerance. Traits like anger and irritability are placed here, not under Emotionality, as in the Big Five.
This reorganization helps clarify the emotional basis of interpersonal conflict and cooperation.
4. Different Facet Structures
Each trait in both models includes more specific sub-traits (facets). While there is overlap, the HEXACO model provides a distinct breakdown of facets—for example, splitting greed avoidance from modesty under Honesty-Humility or including unconventionality in Openness to Experience.
5. Broader Cultural Validation
The HEXACO model was developed using lexical studies across multiple languages and cultures. It’s argued to be more cross-culturally valid than the Big Five, which was largely based on English-language sources.
6. Prediction of Ethical and Antisocial Behavior
HEXACO has shown stronger predictive validity for moral, prosocial, and antisocial behavior due to the inclusion of Honesty-Humility. It’s often preferred in research on corruption, lying, bullying, and altruism.
7. Application in Personality Research
Both models are used in academic and organizational psychology. However, HEXACO is increasingly favored in domains that study personality and ethics, leadership integrity, and social responsibility. The Big Five remains widely used in corporate settings and popular culture, partly due to its historical precedence and simplicity.
Comparison Table: HEXACO vs. Big Five
| Trait | HEXACO | Big Five |
|---|---|---|
| Honesty-Humility | Included (central feature) | Not present |
| Emotionality / Neuroticism | Focuses on fearfulness, sentimentality, dependence | Focuses on anxiety, anger, depression |
| Agreeableness | Excludes emotional sensitivity; includes patience and forgiveness | Includes emotional sensitivity (anger, anxiety) |
| Extraversion | Similar | Similar |
| Conscientiousness | Similar | Similar |
| Openness to Experience | Includes creativity, unconventionality, curiosity | Includes aesthetics, imagination, liberal values |
Which Model Should You Use?
Both models are valid and useful. Your choice depends on your purpose:
- Use Big Five if: You want a quick, broad overview or are using a legacy system or study design.
- Use HEXACO if: You want deeper insights into ethics, trustworthiness, humility, and cross-cultural applicability.
Final Thoughts
While the Big Five provided a strong foundation in personality theory, HEXACO has built upon and improved this structure by offering more comprehensive, ethically relevant, and cross-culturally supported dimensions. If you're seeking a more nuanced and modern view of personality—especially in areas like relationships, leadership, and morality—HEXACO offers the edge.