Cultural Influences on Personality Types: A Cluster Analysis of HEXACO Traits in Japan

This study investigates the structure of personality types among Japanese individuals using the HEXACO model, based on data from 13,668 participants. Although personality trait research has made significant progress, the existence and consistency of personality types remain under debate. To address this, we applied a combination of Ward’s hierarchical clustering and k-means analysis, supplemented by latent profile and spectral clustering to ensure robustness. The results revealed seven distinct personality types that capture both universal and culture-specific dimensions of personality. These types include Reserved, Emotionally Sensitive, Conscientious Introvert, Exploratory Extravert, Self-Oriented Independent, Emotionally Volatile Extravert, and Reliable Introvert. The Honesty–Humility factor, central to the HEXACO framework, was particularly influential in explaining cultural aspects of Japanese personality, reflecting the balance between humility, emotional restraint, and social harmony emphasized in Japanese society. Moreover, the study demonstrated how methodological diversity and large-scale data enhance the reliability of typological research in non-Western contexts. The findings extend previous Western-centered studies by providing empirical evidence of distinct personality configurations shaped by Japanese cultural values. This study contributes to cross-cultural psychology by highlighting the universality and specificity of HEXACO-based personality structures and underscores the need for culturally grounded models in global personality science.