The General Factor of Personality (GFP) and moral foundations

The present study examined whether the General Factor of Personality (GFP) is associated with moral foundations. The GFP represents the shared variance among lower-level personality traits and is assumed to reflect social effectiveness. We compare two contrasting hypotheses regarding the associations between the GFP and moral values. The social effectiveness view suggests relative independence of the two constructs, whereas, based on Life History theory, relevant associations would be expected. Two samples of Japanese adults participated in this study online. The first sample (Sample 1) consisted of 500 Japanese (M = 45.42 years; SD = 8.53; range 20–60; 250 women), and the second sample (Sample 2) of 487 Japanese (M = 41.13 years; SD = 10.08; range 20–60; 244 women). The GFP was found in the HEXACO-60 in Sample 1 and was extracted from the NEO-FFI in Sample 2. Correlational and multiple regression analyses revealed that the GFP was modestly, yet significantly associated with Ingroup/Loyalty which refers to individual differences in trueness, patriotism, and self-abnegations for one's group members. The GFP was not substantially associated with the other moral foundations. These findings indicate the relative independence of the GFP from moral values, which is more congruent to the social effectiveness view.