Humanism, as a Light Triad trait, means valuing the dignity and worth of every individual, regardless of their status, background or usefulness to you. A person high in humanism enjoys other people’s successes, treats a cleaner and a CEO with equal respect and feels that every person matters.
| At a glance | Humanism (Light Triad) |
|---|---|
| Part of | The Light Triad |
| Core belief | “Every person has dignity and worth.” |
| Dark counterpart | The callousness behind psychopathy and the status-ranking of narcissism |
| Linked with | Empathy, compassion, appreciation of others’ achievements |
| Everyday sign | Equal respect for people with power and without |
Not The Same As Philosophical Humanism
The word “humanism” has several meanings.
| Meaning | What it refers to |
|---|---|
| Renaissance humanism | A 14th to 16th century movement reviving classical learning, linked with figures such as Petrarch and Erasmus |
| Secular humanism | A worldview that bases ethics on human reason rather than religion |
| Humanistic psychology | A 20th century school led by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, focused on growth and self-actualisation |
| Light Triad humanism | A personality trait: how much you value the worth of each person |
The Light Triad trait is compatible with any religion or none. Kaufman, himself influenced by humanistic psychology, chose the name to capture appreciation of people as they are.
What Research Links It With
In the 2019 Light Triad studies, humanism correlated with:
- Empathy, both understanding and sharing others’ feelings.
- Compassion for people who are suffering.
- Lower narcissism and lower psychopathy.
Across the study, Light Triad scores overall were slightly higher among older people and among women.
Why It Matters
Research on respect at work suggests that feeling valued as a person is one of the strongest predictors of engagement and wellbeing. Humanism also protects against a quiet trap: treating people as “useful” or “not useful”. That habit, common in competitive settings, erodes trust and makes relationships transactional.
Low Humanism: What It Looks Like
People low in this trait may:
- Pay more attention to high-status people in a room.
- Feel threatened by others’ achievements.
- Judge people quickly by appearance, job or accent.
- Find it hard to see value in people they disagree with.
None of this makes someone a bad person. It reflects habits of attention that can be changed.
Explore This Trait Further
Measure your level in the Dark Triad test, which scores all six Dark and Light traits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a secular humanist to score high?
No. The trait is about valuing people, not about beliefs on religion or philosophy.
Is humanism the same as empathy?
They overlap, but empathy is about feeling with someone, while humanism is an attitude of respect for everyone’s worth.
Can humanism be learned?
Yes. Practising curiosity about people’s stories and noticing how you treat people with less power both strengthen it.
Personality research summary for self-reflection.