The role of greed avoidance and liveliness in shaping cultural intelligence: A facet-level analysis of personality traits

Abstract

This study examines the influence of two personality facets, specifically greed avoidance, a subdimension of honesty-humility, and liveliness, a subdimension of extraversion, on cultural intelligence (CQ) and its facets (meta-cognitive, cognitive, motivational, and behavioral). Using the HEXACO Personality Inventory, survey data reveal an intriguing pattern: while liveliness positively correlates with motivational and behavioral facets of CQ, greed avoidance shows a surprising negative relationship, suggesting potential barriers to cultural adaptability for individuals high in this trait. A gender analysis reveals no significant difference in these relationships between male and female respondents. The findings highlight how specific facets of honesty-humility and extra-version influence intercultural competence, with implications for developing tailored cross-cultural training and development. Future research is encouraged to validate and expand these insights across diverse populations.