Theoretical and empirical dissociations between the Dark Factor of Personality and low Honesty-Humility

Abstract Recent research suggests that the common core of all aversive traits can be understood through the Dark Factor of Personality (D). Previously, the overlap among aversive traits has also been described as the low pole of HEXACO Honesty-Humility. Relying on longitudinal data and a range of theoretically derived outcome criteria, we test in four studies (total N > 2,500) whether and how D and low Honesty-Humility differ. Although the constructs shared around 66% of variance (meta-analytically aggregated across all studies), they longitudinally differently accounted for diverse aversive traits and showed theoretically meaningful and distinct associations to pretentiousness, distrust-related beliefs, and empathy. These results suggest that D and low Honesty-Humility are best understood as strongly overlapping, yet functionally different and nomologically distinct constructs.