Which Of The New 'Big 6' Personality Types Do You Fall Under?

The 'HEXACO' model of personality is a novel, fascinating dimension for assessing personality. Which of its 'Big 6' traits do you exhibit?

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | December 10, 2024

The "HEXACO" model of personality is a six-dimensional framework for understanding human personality. Each dimension reflects a continuum of traits, influencing a wide range of behaviors, including our ability to remain healthy and take care of ourselves.

A 2023 study published in the European Journal of Personality examined how each of the "Big 6" traits impact the following dimensions of health:

• Mental health. This dimension includes positive outcomes such as happiness, positivity, satisfaction and high self-esteem as well as negative outcomes such as depression, negative emotions, relationship issues, stress and susceptibility to disorders like anxiety, addiction and mood or personality disorders.
• Physical health. This area examines the condition of the body and includes indicators of physical fitness, diagnosed diseases such as cancer and overall mortality risk.
• Health-oriented behavior. This dimension looks at behaviors that impact health, including health-promoting behaviors activities like regular exercise and health-deteriorating behaviors and risky actions such as substance use, gambling, aggression or unsafe sex.

Here's how each of these six personality traits influence our health, according to the study.

1. Honesty-Humility (H)

This dimension captures traits related to sincerity, fairness, greed-avoidance and modesty. Individuals with high levels of honesty-humility are sincere, loyal and unwilling to exploit others for personal gain. They take only what they feel they deserve and show humility in their achievements.

Individuals high on this dimension can admit to their mistakes, refrain from overly materialistic pursuits and an envy of others' possessions.

Honesty-humility's impact on physical health is limited, potentially because it is more strongly linked to behaviors with a moral dimension, such as avoiding deviance, rather than physical health habits like exercise or diet.

Interestingly, this trait is strongly associated with health-related behaviors, such as avoiding gambling, substance abuse or risky sexual practices. This suggests that its prosocial nature supports better health outcomes indirectly by fostering self-regulation and ethical decision-making.

This trait is also moderately linked to lower risk of personality disorders due to its association with prosocial behaviors and a low tendency toward deceit or exploitation.

2. Emotionality (E)

Emotionality encompasses traits such as fearfulness, anxiety, dependence and sentimentality. Individuals high on emotionality are sensitive to emotional experiences, prone to worry often and highly empathetic toward others.

Such individuals may seek support and reassurance during challenging times and display strong emotional attachments to loved ones. They also tend to avoid risk due to fear of harm or failure.

While these tendencies can negatively impact mental health—leading to heightened stress and anxiety—they can also encourage positive health behaviors. For instance, people high in emotionality are less likely to engage in risky activities like excessive drinking or gambling, likely due to their aversion to harm and fear of negative outcomes.

Additionally, emotionality's impact on physical health is negative, possibly due to chronic stress or emotional strain. However, its influence on health behaviors can be beneficial when individuals channel their concerns into preventative actions, such as seeking support or avoiding risky practices.

"Individuals scoring high on emotionality were less likely to consume alcohol, gamble or engage in risky, short-term sexual practices," the researchers write. This complex relationship underscores the dual nature of emotionality as both a risk factor for poor mental health and a motivator for cautious behavior.

3. Extraversion (X)

This dimension reflects sociability, enthusiasm and a preference for stimulating environments. Highly extroverted individuals are outgoing, energetic and enjoy social interactions. They thrive in lively environments and often seek excitement, participating actively in group conversations and events.

Interestingly, the impact of extraversion on health behaviors is mixed. While extraverts may participate in healthy group activities like exercising, they are equally drawn to potentially harmful behaviors as part of their social nature, such as drinking or risky social interactions.

These opposing tendencies tend to cancel each other out, explaining the weak link researchers found between extraversion and overall health behaviors or physical health. However, the trait has a pronounced influence on happiness, optimism and life satisfaction, suggesting that fostering social connections can be a pathway to mental well-being for extroverts.

4. Agreeableness (A)

Agreeableness relates to forgiveness, patience, flexibility and cooperativeness. Highly agreeable individuals are tolerant, warm and conflict-averse. They prioritize maintaining harmony in relationships and are quick to reconcile.

While its impact on physical health isn't very significant, the interpersonal harmony cultivated by agreeableness contributes to lower stress levels and an overall sense of well-being. Additionally, when it comes to mental well-being, higher agreeableness is associated with relationship satisfaction and lower levels of conflict.

5. Conscientiousness (C)

This dimension involves traits like organization, diligence, perfectionism and prudence. Highly conscientious individuals are hardworking, detail-oriented and responsible. They strive for excellence and adhere to plans and schedules.

The trait has a strong association with physical health, which underscores its practical benefits. Conscientious individuals are proactive in managing their health and getting regular health check-ups, which helps them avoid chronic illnesses and maintain overall well-being. Additionally, their disciplined approach positively affects mental health by reducing stress and increasing a sense of control over life circumstances.

When it comes to mental well-being, conscientiousness is associated with better emotional regulation and lower impulsivity, reducing risks for anxiety and depression.

Conscientious individuals are also more likely to engage in regular exercise, eat healthily and follow medical advice, all of which directly improve physical health outcomes. Their planning and self-control also shield them from impulsive or harmful behaviors, such as overeating or substance abuse.

"Conscientiousness can therefore be considered one of the most important personality characteristics when it comes to a healthy life," the researchers write.

6. Openness To Experience (O)

This dimension includes traits like curiosity, creativity, imagination and an appreciation for art and novelty. Individuals high on openness are innovative and open to new ideas or experiences. They may explore new cultures, cuisines or hobbies or pursue creative or unconventional careers and lifestyles.

Researchers found that the influence of openness on physical and mental health is relatively weak.

People high in this trait are often more adventurous in their behaviors, which can lead to both positive and negative health outcomes. On one hand, their curiosity might motivate them to try novel health interventions or pursue mentally enriching activities, benefiting their mental health. On the other hand, this same trait could expose them to risky behaviors, such as trying recreational substances, that may not be beneficial.

The good news is that personality traits, while relatively stable, are not set in stone. By understanding your own tendencies, you can consciously lean into your strengths and work on mitigating potential vulnerabilities, bridging the gap between natural inclinations and health goals. In the end, the first step to a healthier life starts from within.

Do you display an openness to new experiences? Take this science-backed test to find out how you compare with others: Openness To Experience Scale

A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here.