Trust from a trait perspective: a theoretical framework and empirical test

Corresponding to the pivotal role of trust for all kinds of social interactions and inter-personal relationships, trust has been the target of abundant research across scientific disci-plines. However, an integration of the huge literature is currently missing – thus hampering a common understanding of trust and a synthesis between the fields. Furthermore, from a psy-chological perspective, there is an insufficient understanding of the (basic) personality traits accounting for individual variation in trust. Therefore, the overall objective of this thesis is to bridge the gap between different lines of trust research and to uncover the dispositional de-terminants of trust. To that end, a behavioral view on trust is adopted, defining trust in terms of a risky choice to depend on another. Based on a broad review of the literature, a theoretical framework is distilled, identifying the situational features and personality characteristics un-derlying trust. Specifically, trust is considered to be a function of (1) attitudes toward risky prospects (risk and loss aversion), (2) trustworthiness expectations, and (3) betrayal sensitivity. These determinants are, in turn, rooted in different traits (i.e., anxiety/fear, trustworthiness, and forgiveness) which can be localized in the space defined by basic personality models. Here, the HEXACO model provides particularly clear-cut hypotheses on the basic traits driv-ing trust, including a unique factor for each of the proposed (specific) trait determinants. Building on this reasoning, the empirical part of this thesis presents first evidence on the link between the HEXACO dimensions and trust. As a starting point, the focus was on the Honesty-Humility factor, representing the unique feature of the HEXACO model compared to more established models of personality (e.g., the Five-Factor Model). In line with the pro-posed theoretical framework, two sets of studies provided support for a social projection path from trait trustworthiness to trustworthiness expectations. Specifically, high levels of Hones-ty-Humility predicted more optimistic trustworthiness expectations and – as necessitated by social projection – were also positively linked to trustworthy behavior. As such, the findings not only identify a trait source of trust, but also clarify the dispositional determinants of trust-worthiness. Overall, the theoretical framework and empirical evidence presented in this thesis suggests the fruitfulness to take a closer look at trust – from a trait perspective

Who is healthier? A meta-analysis of the relations between the HEXACO personality domains and health outcomes

Researchers and practitioners have long been interested in the relations of basic personality domains with health. Whereas previous meta-analyses have focused on the Big Five traits, we provide the first meta-analysis of the relations between the HEXACO domains, as assessed by HEXACO Personality Inventories, and various health outcomes (k = 276, N = 92,319). In general, relations of the HEXACO domains were strongest with mental health, followed by health behavior, whereas relations with physical health outcomes were weak and largely non-significant. All HEXACO domains were significantly linked to mental health and health behavior outcomes. Extraversion exhibited the strongest correlation with mental health (ρ = .48), whereas Honesty-Humility (ρ = .31), Agreeableness versus Anger (ρ = .25), and Conscientiousness (ρ = .31) were most predictive of health behavior. Physical health was only significantly associated with Emotionality (ρ = −.14) and Conscientiousness (ρ = .10). Honesty-Humility explained incremental variance over the Big Five in several health behavior outcomes, whereas it had little incremental validity for mental and physical health outcomes. Finally, comparing the variance that the HEXACO and the Big Five domains explained in specific health outcomes demonstrated that each personality model occasionally exhibited superior criterion-related validity. Hence, the choice of the more useful personality model could be outcome-dependent

Who is healthier? A meta-analysis of the relations between the HEXACO personality domains and health outcomes

Researchers and practitioners have long been interested in the relations of basic personality domains with health. Whereas previous meta-analyses have focused on the Big Five traits, we provide the first meta-analysis of the relations between the HEXACO domains, as assessed by HEXACO Personality Inventories, and various health outcomes (k = 276, N = 92,319). In general, relations of the HEXACO domains were strongest with mental health, followed by health behavior, whereas relations with physical health outcomes were weak and largely non-significant. All HEXACO domains were significantly linked to mental health and health behavior outcomes. Extraversion exhibited the strongest correlation with mental health (ρ = .48), whereas Honesty-Humility (ρ = .31), Agreeableness versus Anger (ρ = .25), and Conscientiousness (ρ = .31) were most predictive of health behavior. Physical health was only significantly associated with Emotionality (ρ = −.14) and Conscientiousness (ρ = .10). Honesty-Humility explained incremental variance over the Big Five in several health behavior outcomes, whereas it had little incremental validity for mental and physical health outcomes. Finally, comparing the variance that the HEXACO and the Big Five domains explained in specific health outcomes demonstrated that each personality model occasionally exhibited superior criterion-related validity. Hence, the choice of the more useful personality model could be outcome-dependent

Test-retest reliability of the HEXACO-100—And the value of multiple measurements for assessing reliability

Despite the widespread use of the HEXACO model as a descriptive taxonomy of personality traits, there remains limited information on the test-retest reliability of its commonly-used inventories. Studies typically report internal consistency estimates, such as alpha or omega, but there are good reasons to believe that these do not accurately assess reliability. We report 13-day test-retest correlations of the 100- and 60-item English HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-100 and HEXACO-60) domains, facets, and items. In order to test the validity of test-retest reliability, we then compare these estimates to correlations between self- and informant-reports (i.e., cross-rater agreement), a widely-used validity criterion. Median estimates of test-retest reliability were .88, .81, and .65 (N = 416) for domains, facets, and items, respectively. Facets’ and items’ test-retest reliabilities were highly correlated with their cross-rater agreement estimates, whereas internal consistencies were not. Overall, the HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised demonstrates test-retest reliability similar to other contemporary measures. We recommend that short-term retest reliability should be routinely calculated to assess reliability

Personality and social relationships: What do we know and where do we go

Personality and social relationships influence each other in multiple and consequential ways. To understand how people differ from each other in their personality and social behavior, how these differences develop, and how this affects further life outcomes, we need to better understand the interplay of personality and social relationships. Here, we provide an integrative overview on personality-relationship research across relationship types (everyday encounters, friendships, romantic, and family relationships), and personality characteristics. We summarize the state of research on (a) how much relationship aspects vary across actors, partners, and actor-partner relations, (b) which personality characteristics predict these variance components (i.e. actor, partner, and relationship effects), and (c) how social relationships work as contexts for personality development. Following an integrative process framework, key open questions are discussed concerning the processes that underlie personality-relationship and relationship-personality effects. We conclude with a call for conceptual integration, methodological expansion, and collaborative action.Personality and relationships influence each other in manifold ways; they cannot be understood in isolation. This paper summarizes the state of the art, provides a common framework for the future of science of personality and social relationships. Emotional Stability, Communion, and Self-Control relate to getting along. Agency and Sociability predict getting ahead. Relationship variance is the largest but least understood variance component. Evidence for effects of relationships on personality development is mixed. More comprehensive and integrative research on underlying processes needed

Three Pillars of Physical Distancing

The outbreak of a global pandemic such as COVID-19 poses a challenge for societies across the world. Lacking both vaccination and medical treatment, the only way to combat the spread of a virus in its early stages are behavioral measures, particularly physical distancing behavior. The present work proposes three pillars of individuals’ engagement in physical distancing: anxiety, prosociality, and rule compliance. In a large (N = 1,504), pre-registered study among German adults, we studied both situation-specific tendencies and stable personality traits that are theoretically associated with these pillars in relation to self-reported physical distancing behavior and underlying motives. Results supported the importance of each of the proposed pillars for physical distancing behavior. That is, for each pillar, we found (some) relations of the corresponding tendencies and personality traits with physical distancing (motives) as expected. Overall, the project provides a comprehensive picture of physical distancing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic

Trust from a trait perspective: a theoretical framework and empirical test

Corresponding to the pivotal role of trust for all kinds of social interactions and inter-personal relationships, trust has been the target of abundant research across scientific disci-plines. However, an integration of the huge literature is currently missing – thus hampering a common understanding of trust and a synthesis between the fields. Furthermore, from a psy-chological perspective, there is an insufficient understanding of the (basic) personality traits accounting for individual variation in trust. Therefore, the overall objective of this thesis is to bridge the gap between different lines of trust research and to uncover the dispositional de-terminants of trust. To that end, a behavioral view on trust is adopted, defining trust in terms of a risky choice to depend on another. Based on a broad review of the literature, a theoretical framework is distilled, identifying the situational features and personality characteristics un-derlying trust. Specifically, trust is considered to be a function of (1) attitudes toward risky prospects (risk and loss aversion), (2) trustworthiness expectations, and (3) betrayal sensitivity. These determinants are, in turn, rooted in different traits (i.e., anxiety/fear, trustworthiness, and forgiveness) which can be localized in the space defined by basic personality models. Here, the HEXACO model provides particularly clear-cut hypotheses on the basic traits driv-ing trust, including a unique factor for each of the proposed (specific) trait determinants. Building on this reasoning, the empirical part of this thesis presents first evidence on the link between the HEXACO dimensions and trust. As a starting point, the focus was on the Honesty-Humility factor, representing the unique feature of the HEXACO model compared to more established models of personality (e.g., the Five-Factor Model). In line with the pro-posed theoretical framework, two sets of studies provided support for a social projection path from trait trustworthiness to trustworthiness expectations. Specifically, high levels of Hones-ty-Humility predicted more optimistic trustworthiness expectations and – as necessitated by social projection – were also positively linked to trustworthy behavior. As such, the findings not only identify a trait source of trust, but also clarify the dispositional determinants of trust-worthiness. Overall, the theoretical framework and empirical evidence presented in this thesis suggests the fruitfulness to take a closer look at trust – from a trait perspective