HEXACO personality domains and deviant behavior in Nigerian public universities

Abstract

Workplace deviance is one of the significant problems in Nigerian public universities. This study aims to investigate the impact of HEXACO personality factors (honesty-humility, emotionality, and agreeableness (H-HEA)) on deviant workplace behavior in public universities in Southwestern Nigeria. The choice of the institutions (Ekiti State University, University of Lagos, and the Federal University of Akure) in the Southwestern region was based on purposive sampling. Simple random sampling was employed to select academic and non-academic staff. The study adopted a quantitative research design and employed Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis to analyze and test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that the H-HEA domain of personality traits negatively correlates with organizational and interpersonal deviance. Secondly, H-HEA personality traits have a negative effect on organizational and interpersonal deviance. Overall, the results of the regression analyses suggest that the H-HEA HEXACO domains of personality traits individually reduces the organizational and interpersonal forms of deviance. Based on the findings, the human resource departments of these institutions can curb workplace deviance by giving preference to candidates or individuals with high scores in H-HAE personality traits. This will go a long way in curtailing the vices of workplace deviance in Southwestern Nigeria public universities.