The HEXACO model of personality: factors related to gossip & friendship
Author
Faculty Advisor
Date
2022
Keywords
gossip, friendship, HEXACO model of personality
Abstract (summary)
In this study, the relationship between gossip, friendship, and the HEXACO model of personality was investigated in a sample of 419 undergraduate participants with three different gossip questionnaires. The results confirmed the hypothesis that emotionality mediates the relationship between friendship and gossip with intimate friendship. With personality and gossip, honesty-humility was the strongest correlate of gossip in a negative direction. The HEXACO facet of sentimentality was found to be a significant indirect mediator of the gossip-friendship relationship rather than the withdrawal facet. With regard to motivation and the tendency to gossip, the subscale-level predictors had a negative relationship with sincerity and fairness. With gossip functions, greed avoidance, sincerity, and modesty were the negatively related predictors. In addition, some sex differences were noted in the relationship between friendship and gossip. Overall gossip scale scores, and the social information and physical appearance gossip subscale scores were correlated with friendship intimacy with females. Achievement gossip was negatively related to friendship intimacy with males. The information function and social motive to gossip were associated with male friendship intimacy. The findings add to the understanding of the relationship between friendship and gossip in terms of personality factors, different elements of gossip, and aspects of friendship. These findings could be used to help individuals deepen the understanding of their friendships and enhance the quality and level of intimacy in these relationships. Particularly useful are the findings that sentimentality rather than withdrawal was related to friendship and gossip.
Publication Information
Watson, D. C. (2022). The HEXACO model of personality: Factors related to gossip & friendship. North American Journal of Psychology, 24(3), 463-480.
DOI
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Item Type
Article
Language
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