Scope now, expansion later.
The design goal is to ship a clean v1 profile layer now while keeping future additions like VIA, empathy, risk tolerance, and chronotype already mapped into the same namespace.
Tiers 1, 2, 3, and 5 are the core launch scope because they cover stable dispositions, dark-side traits, values, and regulatory styles.
VIA stays in the taxonomy so the architecture knows it exists, but the product should link out instead of embedding the assessment.
Tier 6 adds emotional and cognitive style once the main profile system is stable and licensing has been rechecked where needed.
trait: id: hexaco.conscientiousness.diligence tier: 1 domain: conscientiousness facet: diligence instrument: HEXACO-PI-R-100 observation: trait_id: hexaco.conscientiousness.diligence score_raw: 3.8 score_percentile: 72 instrument: HEXACO-PI-R-100 administered: 2026-07-08 method: self_report
Public-domain or low-friction instruments are the cleanest base for a monetizable service. They can safely anchor the data model and user experience.
“Free for research” is not the same as “safe for commercial product embedding.” Those instruments are still useful in the taxonomy, but product use should be gated by a later license review.
Some tools should remain external by default. VIA is the clearest example: it belongs in the conceptual map, but not in the embedded assessment flow.