Emotionality is one of the six major personality dimensions in the HEXACO model. It describes how strongly people experience fear, anxiety, emotional vulnerability and attachment to others. Individuals who score highly tend to be more sensitive to potential dangers, experience greater worry when facing uncertainty, seek reassurance during difficult situations and form strong sentimental bonds. Those who score lower are generally less troubled by physical danger, remain comparatively calm under pressure, prefer dealing with difficulties independently and experience less intense sentimental attachment.
What makes Emotionality particularly interesting is that it combines two aspects of personality that might initially seem unrelated: sensitivity to threat and emotional connection with other people. Someone who becomes anxious about possible dangers may also feel a strong desire to protect loved ones, seek comfort during distress and experience powerful emotions when separated from people they care about. Conversely, a person who remains exceptionally calm in threatening situations may also have relatively little need for emotional reassurance or sentimental expression.
However, Emotionality should not be confused with emotional intelligence, empathy in general or the ability to experience feelings. A low scorer is not necessarily cold, uncaring or incapable of love, just as a high scorer is not necessarily overwhelmed by emotion or unable to make rational decisions. Like the other HEXACO dimensions, Emotionality exists on a continuous spectrum, and individuals may display very different combinations of its four underlying facets: Fearfulness, Anxiety, Dependence and Sentimentality.
These guides describe the HEXACO-PI-R trait framework. TypologyOnline uses a separate 96-item IPIP-based assessment; its facet labels and scores are not interchangeable with the official inventory.
What Is Emotionality?
The HEXACO personality model was developed through research examining how personality-descriptive words cluster across different languages. Psychologists Kibeom Lee and Michael C. Ashton helped establish the six-factor framework, identifying Emotionality as one of the broad dimensions that consistently emerged from these analyses. Although Emotionality resembles Neuroticism in the traditional Big Five model, the two dimensions are organised differently and do not measure precisely the same characteristics.
In particular, HEXACO Emotionality places considerable emphasis on fearfulness, worry, the desire for emotional support and sentimental attachment. By contrast, the Big Five's Neuroticism dimension typically includes a broader collection of negative emotional tendencies, often incorporating anger, hostility, sadness and self-consciousness. HEXACO places anger and irritability primarily within low Agreeableness, while incorporating emotional attachment and sentimentality into Emotionality.
This distinction is important because people do not experience all emotions in the same way. Someone might worry excessively about future problems while rarely becoming angry with others. Another person might be exceptionally fearless in dangerous situations yet display considerable irritability and resentment during disagreements. HEXACO allows these differences to be represented through separate personality dimensions rather than treating them as expressions of one general tendency towards emotional instability.
Emotionality at a Glance
| Characteristic | Higher scorers | Lower scorers |
|---|---|---|
| Fearfulness | More sensitive to physical danger | Less easily frightened by danger |
| Anxiety | More prone to worry and apprehension | Generally calmer during uncertainty |
| Emotional support | More inclined to seek reassurance | Prefer handling problems independently |
| Sentimentality | Stronger emotional attachments | More emotionally detached or reserved |
| Stress response | More readily experience concern | Less inclined towards anticipatory worry |
| Separation | More affected by emotional goodbyes | Less distressed by separation |
Higher scorers
- Fearfulness
- More sensitive to physical danger
- Anxiety
- More prone to worry and apprehension
- Emotional support
- More inclined to seek reassurance
- Sentimentality
- Stronger emotional attachments
- Stress response
- More readily experience concern
- Separation
- More affected by emotional goodbyes
Lower scorers
- Fearfulness
- Less easily frightened by danger
- Anxiety
- Generally calmer during uncertainty
- Emotional support
- Prefer handling problems independently
- Sentimentality
- More emotionally detached or reserved
- Stress response
- Less inclined towards anticipatory worry
- Separation
- Less distressed by separation
These descriptions represent general tendencies rather than fixed categories. A high Emotionality score does not establish that someone is emotionally unstable, while a low score does not guarantee courage, resilience or psychological wellbeing. The meaning of the overall score also depends on the relative contributions of its four facets.
The Evolutionary Perspective: Threat Sensitivity and Kin Altruism
One of the more interesting theoretical interpretations of Emotionality concerns its potential evolutionary significance. Ashton and Lee have discussed the dimension in relation to kin altruism, a concept from evolutionary biology describing behaviour that benefits relatives, sometimes at a cost to the individual providing assistance. In this framework, emotional attachment, concern for vulnerable people and sensitivity to danger may have contributed to behaviours that protected close family members and offspring.
The connection becomes easier to understand when considering the role of fear and attachment in human relationships. Sensitivity to danger may encourage individuals to avoid physical risks, while strong emotional bonds can motivate concern for the safety and wellbeing of loved ones. A person who feels considerable distress at the possibility of losing someone close may also be strongly motivated to maintain contact, provide protection or seek reassurance about that person's safety.
In HEXACO theory, Emotionality is therefore not simply a measure of unpleasant feelings. Its combination of fearfulness, dependence and sentimentality may reflect aspects of the psychological systems involved in protection, attachment and close interpersonal relationships. This differs from the interpretation of Honesty–Humility and Agreeableness, which have been discussed in relation to reciprocal altruism and cooperation between individuals.
However, these evolutionary explanations remain theoretical interpretations rather than established accounts of the origins of each individual's personality. Kin altruism does not imply that highly emotional people necessarily care more about their relatives, nor that low scorers lack protective instincts. Human attachment and caregiving are influenced by many characteristics beyond Emotionality.
The Four Facets of Emotionality
The Emotionality dimension consists of four narrower facets: Fearfulness, Anxiety, Dependence and Sentimentality. Although they are statistically related, each represents a distinct psychological tendency. Examining them individually can provide a considerably more informative picture of someone's emotional life than relying on their overall score.
1. Fearfulness: Sensitivity to Danger vs. Fearlessness
Fearfulness concerns how strongly someone responds to the possibility of physical harm, rather than whether they possess genuine courage.
Fearfulness measures an individual's tendency to experience fear when confronted with physical danger, injury or potentially threatening situations. High scorers are generally more sensitive to the possibility of bodily harm and may feel uncomfortable undertaking activities involving substantial physical risk. They might dislike dangerous sports, become uneasy in hazardous environments or experience strong apprehension when their physical safety is uncertain. Such reactions can encourage caution and avoidance of situations that could result in injury.
Lower scorers tend to experience comparatively little fear of physical danger. They may remain calm when confronted with threatening situations, feel comfortable undertaking physically demanding activities or show relatively little concern about potential injuries. Some individuals with low Fearfulness may enjoy activities that others regard as intimidating, although their willingness to participate will also depend on interests, abilities and other personality traits.
An important distinction exists between fearlessness and bravery. Courage ordinarily involves acting despite experiencing fear, whereas low Fearfulness describes a reduced tendency to experience fear in the first place. A highly fearful person who confronts danger to protect someone else may demonstrate considerable courage, while a relatively fearless individual may undertake the same action without experiencing much apprehension.
Neither extreme is universally advantageous. Sensitivity to danger can encourage sensible precautions, but excessive fear may discourage worthwhile experiences. Conversely, fearlessness can be useful in demanding circumstances, yet insufficient concern about genuine hazards may lead someone to underestimate risks.
2. Anxiety: Worry and Apprehension vs. Emotional Calm
Anxiety concerns how readily the mind anticipates problems and experiences worry, not whether someone is intelligent, competent or mentally strong.
The Anxiety facet describes a tendency to experience worry, apprehension and tension when facing difficulties or uncertain outcomes. High scorers often think about what might go wrong and may find themselves preoccupied with relatively minor problems. They might worry about an upcoming examination, anticipate complications in a work project or repeatedly consider possible negative consequences of an important decision.
Lower scorers generally experience less worry in response to uncertainty. They may find it easier to approach problems without dwelling on potential difficulties and may remain comparatively relaxed when outcomes are unpredictable. Rather than repeatedly imagining what might go wrong, they may prefer to address difficulties as they arise. This tendency can contribute to a calm demeanour, although it does not necessarily indicate superior judgement or problem-solving ability.
Anxiety can sometimes have practical advantages when it encourages preparation, vigilance and attention to possible problems. Someone who anticipates difficulties may identify risks that a more relaxed individual overlooks. Nevertheless, persistent worry can also consume mental resources, interfere with concentration and make ordinary decisions feel unnecessarily demanding. Whether concern is helpful depends on its intensity, accuracy and the circumstances in which it occurs.
It is especially important to distinguish the HEXACO Anxiety facet from clinical anxiety disorders. A high personality score describes a general tendency towards worry, not a medical diagnosis. Similarly, someone who ordinarily scores low may experience substantial anxiety during illness, bereavement, prolonged stress or other difficult circumstances.
3. Dependence: Seeking Reassurance vs. Emotional Self-Reliance
Dependence concerns the desire for emotional comfort and reassurance, rather than practical competence or the ability to function independently.
Dependence measures the extent to which people seek emotional support from others when facing personal difficulties. High scorers often find comfort in discussing their concerns with trusted friends, family members or partners. When something goes wrong, they may feel a strong desire to share the experience, receive reassurance or hear that someone understands what they are going through. Emotional connection can provide an important source of encouragement during stressful periods.
Lower scorers tend to feel more comfortable handling personal difficulties independently. They may prefer to think through problems privately, rely on their own judgement or seek practical solutions without discussing the emotional aspects of the situation. Such individuals may appreciate companionship and maintain close relationships while experiencing relatively little need for reassurance when confronting difficulties.
Dependence is easily misunderstood because the term can suggest helplessness or an inability to make independent decisions. In HEXACO, however, it primarily concerns emotional support-seeking rather than practical dependence. A highly capable, self-sufficient individual may score highly because they value reassurance during emotionally difficult experiences. Conversely, someone who regularly relies on others for practical assistance may have little desire to discuss personal worries.
Both tendencies can produce challenges in particular circumstances. High scorers may sometimes seek reassurance more frequently than others expect, while low scorers may find it difficult to communicate distress or accept emotional support when it would be beneficial. Neither preference necessarily indicates a healthier approach to relationships.
4. Sentimentality: Emotional Attachment vs. Detachment
Sentimentality concerns the strength of emotional bonds and responses to other people's feelings, rather than how openly someone displays emotion.
Sentimentality measures the tendency to experience strong emotional attachments and empathic sensitivity towards others. High scorers may feel deeply affected by separation from loved ones, experience considerable sadness during emotional goodbyes or respond strongly to stories involving suffering and loss. They may attach particular emotional significance to relationships, personal memories and experiences that remind them of important people.
Lower scorers generally experience less intense sentimental reactions. They may find separation easier to tolerate, feel relatively little emotion during farewells or respond to emotionally moving situations in a more detached manner. This does not necessarily indicate an inability to care about others. Such individuals may value relationships deeply, behave generously and maintain long-standing commitments without experiencing the same intensity of sentimental feeling.
A useful distinction exists between Sentimentality and emotional expressiveness. Someone might feel deeply moved by another person's suffering while showing very little emotion outwardly. Conversely, a highly expressive individual may display enthusiasm or excitement without necessarily experiencing particularly strong sentimental attachment. HEXACO Sentimentality concerns the underlying emotional response, not simply the outward display.
Sentimentality also overlaps with aspects of empathy, but it should not be treated as a complete measure of empathic ability. Understanding another person's perspective, recognising their emotional state and responding compassionately involve partly different processes. A low Sentimentality score therefore does not establish that someone lacks empathy, kindness or moral concern.
What Does High Emotionality Look Like?
People with high Emotionality tend to experience stronger fear-related and attachment-related reactions. They may worry about future difficulties, become uncomfortable around physical danger and place considerable importance on the reassurance of trusted people. Emotional relationships can hold particular significance, and separation or the possibility of losing someone close may produce substantial distress.
These tendencies can be accompanied by a heightened awareness of potential threats and a strong appreciation of emotional connection. A highly emotional person might carefully consider safety before undertaking an unfamiliar activity, seek support during a difficult period or respond sensitively when someone they care about is suffering. Such characteristics may contribute to attentive and affectionate relationships, although caring behaviour is influenced by several other personality dimensions.
High Emotionality also presents possible difficulties when worry becomes disproportionate to the circumstances. Someone may spend considerable time anticipating problems that never occur, avoid manageable risks or struggle to feel reassured when outcomes remain uncertain. Strong attachment can make separation particularly painful, especially when relationships or important sources of support become unstable.
Nevertheless, describing high Emotionality as weakness would be misleading. Emotional sensitivity and psychological competence are not opposites. A person can experience intense fear, worry or vulnerability while behaving courageously, making rational decisions and functioning effectively under demanding circumstances.
What Does Low Emotionality Look Like?
Individuals with low Emotionality are generally less easily frightened by physical danger, experience relatively little anticipatory worry and have a reduced need for emotional reassurance. They may appear calm, independent and difficult to unsettle, particularly when confronting uncertainty or physical challenges. Some prefer to resolve problems privately and may experience less distress when separated from people they care about.
These tendencies can be useful in situations requiring composure and a willingness to confront manageable risks. A person who experiences little fear may find certain physically demanding activities less intimidating, while someone who worries infrequently may approach uncertain situations without becoming distracted by imagined difficulties. However, calmness should not automatically be interpreted as competence. Effective decision-making still requires accurate information, sound judgement and an appropriate appreciation of danger.
Lower Emotionality can also influence relationships. Someone who rarely seeks reassurance may struggle to understand why a partner or friend needs frequent emotional support. Similarly, an individual who experiences relatively little sentimental distress may appear detached during situations that others find profoundly moving. These differences can create misunderstandings, even when the underlying relationship remains important to both people.
Crucially, low Emotionality does not imply an absence of feelings, compassion or loyalty. A low scorer may experience love, happiness, sadness and moral concern while displaying less fear, anxiety or sentimental attachment. The dimension concerns particular emotional tendencies rather than the overall richness of someone's inner life.
Emotionality, Stress and Decision-Making
One of the most practical applications of Emotionality concerns how people respond to uncertainty. When confronted with an unfamiliar situation, higher scorers may become more conscious of possible dangers and negative outcomes. They might seek additional information, consider several potential complications or ask trusted people for reassurance before making a decision. These responses can encourage caution, although persistent worry may also make decisions feel more difficult than necessary.
Lower scorers may approach the same circumstances with less apprehension. They might feel comfortable making decisions despite incomplete information and be less distracted by concerns about possible failure. This can create an appearance of confidence and decisiveness, but reduced anxiety does not guarantee that their choices are objectively better.
Consider two people preparing for an important journey. One checks the arrangements carefully, worries about possible delays and considers several alternatives. The other feels relatively unconcerned and assumes that unexpected difficulties can be addressed when they arise. Either approach could prove effective depending on the circumstances. The first person might prevent avoidable problems, while the second might avoid spending unnecessary time worrying about unlikely events.
Emotionality therefore influences how uncertainty is experienced, but it does not independently determine planning ability, intelligence or judgement. Other HEXACO dimensions, particularly Conscientiousness, also contribute to how individuals prepare for difficulties and respond to practical demands.
Emotionality in Relationships and Attachment
Emotionality has particularly interesting implications for close relationships because two of its facets, Dependence and Sentimentality, directly concern emotional connection. Individuals with high scores on these facets may place considerable importance on reassurance, affectionate communication and maintaining close emotional bonds. They may feel a strong desire to share difficulties with a partner and experience substantial sadness when important relationships are threatened or disrupted.
Lower scorers may prefer greater emotional independence. They might maintain affectionate and committed relationships while feeling less need for frequent reassurance or emotionally expressive exchanges. Some may find it difficult to understand why another person experiences intense distress over temporary separation, while highly emotional individuals may interpret a partner's reserved behaviour as a lack of affection.
These differences can create tension when partners expect different forms of emotional support. For example, one person may wish to discuss a difficult experience immediately, seeking understanding and comfort. The other may prefer to process the situation privately before deciding whether a conversation is necessary. Neither response automatically indicates greater maturity or commitment, but recognising the difference can help people avoid misinterpreting one another's intentions.
Although Emotionality overlaps conceptually with aspects of attachment, it should not be confused with attachment-style classifications. Attachment anxiety and avoidance concern characteristic patterns within close relationships, whereas HEXACO Emotionality measures broader tendencies involving fear, worry, reassurance and sentimentality. A person's attachment style cannot be reliably determined from their overall Emotionality score.
Emotionality in the Workplace
In professional environments, Emotionality may influence how employees respond to uncertainty, risk and interpersonal support. Higher scorers may experience greater concern when responsibilities are unclear, outcomes are unpredictable or decisions carry significant consequences. They may prefer environments where expectations are explained clearly and where seeking reassurance or discussing difficulties is accepted.
Lower scorers may be relatively comfortable with uncertainty and less inclined to seek emotional support during demanding situations. They may appear composed when unexpected problems arise, although their outward calm does not necessarily indicate that they are more capable of resolving those problems.
In occupations involving physical hazards, Fearfulness may be particularly relevant to how people perceive and tolerate danger. Research examining HEXACO and risk-taking has found relationships between personality dimensions, including Emotionality, and willingness to undertake certain risks. However, risk-taking also depends on Extraversion, Conscientiousness, experience and the particular form of risk being considered.
No Emotionality level is universally preferable for professional success. High scorers may respond carefully to potential difficulties, while low scorers may be less troubled by uncertainty. Effective performance depends on matching personal characteristics with the demands of a particular role, rather than assuming that calmness is always superior to concern.
Emotionality and Mental Health
Because Emotionality includes anxiety, fear and emotional vulnerability, it is natural to wonder whether high scorers are more likely to experience psychological difficulties. However, an important distinction must be maintained between normal personality variation and clinically significant mental health conditions.
A person with high Emotionality may experience worry and apprehension more readily than average, but that does not automatically mean they have an anxiety disorder. Clinical diagnoses involve additional considerations, including symptom intensity, duration, context and effects on everyday functioning. A personality questionnaire cannot establish these conditions.
Similarly, low Emotionality does not guarantee psychological resilience or freedom from distress. Someone who usually experiences little worry may still develop significant psychological difficulties following prolonged stress, traumatic experiences, illness or major life changes. Personality describes relatively enduring tendencies, but it does not make individuals immune to the effects of their circumstances.
Emotionality should therefore be interpreted as one aspect of psychological functioning rather than a measure of mental health. Understanding someone's usual emotional tendencies may provide useful context, but it cannot replace an assessment of their current wellbeing.
What Does Research Tell Us About Emotionality?
Research has identified Emotionality as a recurring dimension in the cross-language personality studies underlying the HEXACO model. Its combination of fearfulness, anxiety, dependence and sentimentality distinguishes it from the conventional Big Five organisation of emotional traits, and this difference has been discussed extensively in theoretical reviews of the model.
One notable finding concerns average differences between men and women. In a large study published in 2020, Lee and Ashton analysed HEXACO questionnaire responses from 347,192 people across 48 countries. Women scored higher on Emotionality on average, with a sample-unweighted mean difference of approximately 0.84 standard deviations across countries. This was a substantial group-level difference, although the study used online self-report samples rather than nationally representative probability samples.
Such findings should not be interpreted as rigid differences between individual men and women. The score distributions overlap, and many men score more highly than many women. The researchers also found that differences varied across the component facets and between countries, illustrating the importance of examining personality patterns in their proper statistical and cultural context.
More broadly, the research reinforces the importance of treating Emotionality as a multidimensional construct. Fearfulness, Anxiety, Dependence and Sentimentality are related, but they do not describe identical experiences. A single overall score can conceal considerable variation in how a person responds to danger, uncertainty and emotional relationships.
Connecting Emotionality to Other Personality Models
HEXACO Emotionality and Big Five Neuroticism
The closest comparison is Big Five Neuroticism, although the two dimensions differ in important ways. Both include sensitivity to worry and negative experiences, meaning individuals who score highly on HEXACO Anxiety may also tend to score highly on measures of Neuroticism.
However, Big Five Neuroticism, particularly in the widely used NEO framework, includes characteristics such as angry hostility, depression, self-consciousness, impulsiveness and vulnerability. HEXACO organises these characteristics differently. Anger and irritability are primarily associated with low Agreeableness, while Emotionality includes Dependence and Sentimentality, which are not central components of conventional Neuroticism scales.
This creates some important distinctions. A person who becomes angry easily but rarely feels afraid or anxious might score highly on aspects of Big Five Neuroticism while displaying relatively low HEXACO Emotionality. Conversely, someone who forms intense sentimental attachments and seeks considerable emotional reassurance may score highly on HEXACO Emotionality without necessarily experiencing frequent anger or hostility.
The two dimensions therefore overlap substantially, but they are not interchangeable. When interpreting results from different personality assessments, it is important to consider what each instrument actually measures rather than assuming that similarly named traits have identical meanings.
HEXACO Emotionality and MBTI
There is no established direct mapping between HEXACO Emotionality and MBTI types or cognitive functions. MBTI describes personality preferences through categories such as Thinking versus Feeling and Introversion versus Extraversion, while HEXACO measures continuous individual differences in emotional and behavioural tendencies.
In particular, the MBTI Thinking–Feeling distinction should not be confused with Emotionality. Someone who prefers analytical decision-making may nevertheless experience substantial fear, anxiety and sentimental attachment. Equally, someone who places considerable importance on personal values or interpersonal considerations may be comparatively fearless and emotionally self-reliant.
An INTJ, INFP, ENFJ or any other MBTI type could therefore score anywhere along the Emotionality spectrum. Although some type descriptions contain themes involving sensitivity or emotional expression, these similarities do not justify assigning reliable HEXACO Emotionality scores to particular MBTI categories.
HEXACO Emotionality and the Enneagram
Several Enneagram descriptions contain themes that resemble aspects of HEXACO Emotionality. Type 6, for example, is commonly associated with vigilance, uncertainty and concerns about security, making it conceptually relevant to Fearfulness and Anxiety. Type 2 descriptions emphasise emotional connection and interpersonal relationships, which may invite comparisons with Dependence and Sentimentality.
Type 5, by contrast, is frequently described as preferring independence and emotional self-sufficiency, while Type 8 is often associated with toughness and resistance to vulnerability. These themes may resemble some characteristics of lower Emotionality, but the similarities should not be interpreted as scientifically established correlations.
The Enneagram and HEXACO were developed through different theoretical traditions, and the available evidence does not justify assigning particular Emotionality levels to Enneagram types. Someone identifying with Type 5 could experience substantial anxiety, while a Type 6 individual might be remarkably fearless in physically dangerous situations. The four HEXACO facets provide a more precise way to examine these particular differences.
Understanding Your Own Emotionality Score
When reflecting on Emotionality, it is useful to consider how you typically respond to danger, uncertainty and emotional connection. Do physical risks make you uncomfortable, or are you relatively difficult to frighten? When facing an uncertain outcome, do you repeatedly imagine possible problems, or do you generally remain calm until there is a concrete reason for concern? During difficult periods, do you seek reassurance from trusted people, or do you prefer handling emotional challenges privately?
It is also worth considering the strength of your sentimental attachments. Do emotional farewells affect you deeply? Are you easily moved by the suffering of loved ones or by memories of important relationships? Alternatively, do you tend to experience these situations with relatively little emotional intensity, even when the people involved matter greatly to you?
These questions provide opportunities for reflection, but a structured personality assessment offers a more systematic approach. Individuals may interpret their own emotional reactions differently, and temporary circumstances can influence how they answer questions. Results are therefore most useful when treated as estimates of general tendencies rather than definitive statements about personality.
Examining the four facets separately is especially important. Someone might be highly anxious but emotionally independent, experiencing considerable worry without wanting reassurance from others. Another person might be physically fearless yet deeply sentimental, showing little apprehension about dangerous situations while forming powerful emotional attachments. Such combinations demonstrate why the overall Emotionality dimension should not be reduced to a simple distinction between emotional and unemotional personalities.
Final Thoughts
Emotionality represents one of the most distinctive features of the HEXACO personality model because it brings together sensitivity to threat, worry, emotional support-seeking and sentimental attachment. Rather than treating emotional vulnerability simply as instability, it recognises that fear, anxiety and close emotional bonds may form part of a broader pattern of individual differences.
Perhaps its most important insight is that being emotionally sensitive does not necessarily mean being weak, while being emotionally detached does not necessarily mean being strong. A person can experience considerable fear while acting courageously, seek reassurance while remaining highly competent, or display little sentimentality while maintaining deep and meaningful relationships.
Understanding Emotionality therefore requires looking beyond labels such as sensitive, tough, anxious or independent. Its four facets provide a more detailed account of how individuals experience danger, respond to uncertainty and relate emotionally to the people around them.
Like every personality dimension, Emotionality is best understood as a pattern of tendencies rather than a fixed identity or a judgement about personal worth. Its value lies in helping explain why people can respond so differently to the same situations, and why emotional sensitivity and emotional independence each have their own characteristics, possibilities and limitations.
Research and Further Reading
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Lee, K., & Ashton, M. C. HEXACO-PI-R: Official Scale Descriptions. The original researchers' definitions of Emotionality and its four component facets.
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Ashton, M. C., & Lee, K. (2007). Empirical, Theoretical, and Practical Advantages of the HEXACO Model of Personality Structure. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11(2), 150–166. An influential theoretical account of HEXACO, including its interpretation of kin and reciprocal altruism.
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Ashton, M. C., Lee, K., & de Vries, R. E. (2014). The HEXACO Honesty–Humility, Agreeableness, and Emotionality Factors: A Review of Research and Theory. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 18(2), 139–152.
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Lee, K., & Ashton, M. C. (2020). Sex Differences in HEXACO Personality Characteristics Across Countries and Ethnicities. Journal of Personality, 88(6), 1075–1090. A large cross-national investigation of personality differences at the domain and facet levels.
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De Vries, R. E., de Vries, A., & Feij, J. A. (2009). Sensation Seeking, Risk-Taking, and the HEXACO Model of Personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(6), 536–540. Research examining relationships between HEXACO dimensions and risk-related tendencies.
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