The H Factor of Personality

1. Personality Includes Honesty-Humility (H)

We call this personality dimension the H factor.

The H Factor Defined. The H factor, or Honesty-Humility, is a fundamental dimension of personality that distinguishes individuals based on their tendencies toward sincerity, fairness, and modesty versus deceitfulness, greed, and arrogance. It represents a spectrum of behaviors and attitudes related to ethical conduct and interpersonal relationships.

H Factor's Significance. The H factor influences various aspects of life, including financial decisions, social interactions, and political views. Understanding the H factor helps explain why some people are more prone to manipulation, exploitation, and unethical behavior, while others prioritize fairness, cooperation, and integrity.

H Factor's Late Recognition. The H factor was not recognized as a core personality dimension until around 2000, as previous models, such as the Big Five, did not fully capture the nuances of honesty and humility. Its inclusion provides a more comprehensive understanding of human personality.

2. HEXACO Model: Six Dimensions of Personality

There were six major dimensions of personality.

HEXACO's Six Factors. The HEXACO model expands upon the Big Five personality traits by adding Honesty-Humility (H) to the existing factors of Emotionality (E), Extraversion (X), Agreeableness (A), Conscientiousness (C), and Openness to Experience (O). This model provides a more nuanced and complete framework for understanding individual differences in personality.

HEXACO's Dimensions. Each HEXACO dimension represents a continuum of traits, with individuals falling somewhere between the high and low ends of each spectrum. These dimensions influence how people interact with their environment, make decisions, and form relationships.

HEXACO's Contrasting Strategies. Each HEXACO dimension can be seen as a contrast between two opposite strategies for interacting with one's surroundings. Depending on the context, a higher or lower level of a given dimension may be more advantageous.

3. Low-H People Exploit Others

High-H people cooperate with you even when they could get away with exploiting you.

Low-H's Core Trait. The defining characteristic of low-H individuals is their willingness to exploit others for personal gain. They are more likely to engage in manipulative, deceitful, and unethical behaviors to achieve their goals.

Low-H's Lack of Conscience. Low-H people lack a strong sense of moral obligation and are less concerned about the well-being of others. They may feel entitled to take advantage of people, even when there is no risk of detection or retaliation.

Low-H's Impact on Cooperation. Low-H individuals undermine cooperation by taking unfair advantage of others, eroding trust and goodwill. Their actions can have negative consequences for relationships, communities, and society as a whole.

4. Low H + Other Traits = Distinct Personalities

We’ll explore some of the main variations on the low-H personality by exploring the key characteristics of people who combine low H with high or low levels of each of the other personality factors.

Low H's Variations. The expression of low-H traits varies depending on an individual's levels of the other five HEXACO personality factors. Combining low H with high or low levels of E, X, A, C, and O results in distinct personality profiles with unique characteristics and behaviors.

Low H, Low E: Greed without Fear. These individuals are cold, callous, and take big chances for wealth and power.

Low H, High E: Weaseling and Whining. These individuals exploit others in subtle, sneaky ways to avoid confrontation.

Low H, High X: Narcissism Run Wild. These individuals are narcissistic, crave power, and feel entitled to it.

Low H, Low X: The Smug Silent Types. These individuals feel entitled to high status but lack charisma.

Low H, Low A: Just Plain Nasty. These individuals are aggressive, vindictive, and see the world as a hostile place.

Low H, High A: Inoffensive but Insincere. These individuals are greedy but easygoing, using ingratiation to influence people.

Low H, Low C: An Employer’s Worst Nightmare. These individuals are sloppy, lazy, and have no work ethic.

Low H, High C: Selfish Ambition. These individuals are selfish but disciplined, exploiting legal technicalities for personal gain.

Low H, Low O: Shallow and Narrow. These individuals are interested in money and status and not much else.

Low H, High O: Sophisticated Snobbery. These individuals are aggressively nonconformist and enjoy offending community standards.

Understanding Low-H Combinations. By examining these combinations, we gain a deeper understanding of the diverse ways in which low-H traits manifest and the potential consequences for individuals and society.

5. Judging H Requires Acquaintanceship

To be really accurate in judging a person’s level of H, you usually need to know that person very well.

Judging H is Difficult. Accurately assessing someone's level of H is challenging, as it requires observing a wide range of behaviors across diverse situations over time. First impressions can be misleading, and it's easy to misdiagnose someone based on limited information.

Observer Reports. Observer reports from close acquaintances are more reliable than self-reports or brief encounters. People who know someone well have a better understanding of their true character and are less likely to be fooled by superficial charm or deception.

Workplace Limitations. The workplace often provides limited opportunities to observe H-related behaviors, as people tend to manage their impressions and conform to professional norms. As a result, it can be difficult to accurately judge a coworker's level of H based solely on workplace interactions.

6. Friends Share H and Openness Values

People prefer to associate with those who have similar values, and this is probably because these values are so important to one’s sense of identity.

Friends' Similarities. People tend to form friendships with those who share similar levels of H and O, as well as similar values related to those traits. This suggests that honesty, humility, openness, and intellectual curiosity are important factors in social bonding.

Perceived Similarity. Friends often perceive themselves as being more similar in H and O than they actually are. This may be due to a desire to maintain harmonious relationships and reinforce shared values.

Values and Identity. The link between personality and values helps explain why friends tend to be similar in H and O. These traits underlie our choices regarding which goals are worth pursuing throughout one's life, and these values are important to one’s sense of identity.

7. Politics Reflect H and Openness

In this chapter, we discuss the role of personality in shaping our political attitudes.

RWA and SDO. Political attitudes are strongly influenced by Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). RWA reflects a preference for conformity and obedience to authority, while SDO reflects a desire for social hierarchy and group dominance.

O and RWA. Low levels of O are associated with high RWA, meaning that people who are less open to new experiences and ideas tend to be more socially conservative. This link becomes stronger as people get older, as their political views become more aligned with their underlying personality traits.

H and SDO. Low levels of H are associated with high SDO, meaning that people who are less honest and humble tend to favor social inequality and group dominance. This link is consistent across different age groups and cultures.

8. Religion and H are Intertwined

In this chapter, we’ll consider the role of personality in explaining which people will be religious and how they will express their religiosity.

H and Supernatural Beliefs. Higher levels of H, A, and E are modestly associated with belief in the supernatural. This suggests that nicer, more soft-hearted people are more likely to believe in souls, spirits, and an afterlife.

O and Religious Style. The O factor influences the style or form of religious expression. Low-O people tend to have traditional religious beliefs, while high-O people tend to have mystically spiritual beliefs.

H and Religious Motivation. The H factor is involved in the reasons people have for expressing their religious beliefs. High-H people are more likely to have genuine religious devotion, while low-H people may be motivated by social status or personal gain.

9. Low-H People Seek Money, Power, and Sex

The behaviour of low-H people is expressed in many aspects of life.

Money. Low-H people are more likely to engage in theft, fraud, and tax evasion to acquire wealth. They may also engage in conspicuous consumption to display their status and impress others.

Power. Low-H people crave power and are more likely to abuse it. They may engage in Machiavellian tactics to climb the corporate ladder or seek positions of political authority.

Sex. Low-H people are more likely to engage in sexual exploitation, infidelity, and quid pro quo harassment. They may view sex as a tool for manipulation and personal gain.

10. Identifying and Avoiding Low-H People

To be able to identify low-H people is a useful skill.

Invalid Signs of High H. Be wary of relying on superficial indicators such as respectability, anti-conformity, religious piety, championing the underdog, blunt criticism, or publicly displayed generosity, as these can be misleading.

Valid Signs of Low H. Look for signs of "beating the system," instrumental ingratiation, gambling and financial speculation, sexual infidelity, conspicuous consumption, an "above the law" mentality, and contempt of other groups.

Living with Low-H People. Limit your interaction with low-H people, and avoid forming close relationships with them. If you must interact with them, try to align your interests with theirs and be prepared to protect yourself from exploitation.

Last updated: March 14, 2025