How approach and avoidance constructs of personality and trait emotional intelligence predict core human values

•Novelty Seeking positively predicts values of Hedonism and Stimulation.•Harm Avoidance positively predicts Conformity and negatively predicts Stimulation.•Low EI explains the positive relationship between Harm Avoidance and Hedonism.•EI explains some effects of Harm Avoidance, but not Novelty Seeking on core values.

In this paper we focus specifically on explaining variation in core human values, and suggest that individual differences in values can be partially explained by personality traits and the perceived ability to manage emotions in the self and others (i.e. trait emotional intelligence). A sample of 209 university students was used to test hypotheses regarding several proposed direct and indirect relationships between personality traits, trait emotional intelligence and values. Consistent with the hypotheses, Harm Avoidance and Novelty Seeking were found to directly predict Hedonism, Conformity, and Stimulation. Harm Avoidance was also found to indirectly predict these values through the mediating effects of key subscales of trait emotional intelligence. Novelty Seeking was not found to be an indirect predictor of values. Results have implications for our understanding of the relationship between personality, trait emotional intelligence and values, and suggest a common basis in terms of approach and avoidance pathways.