David J. Hughes

David J. Hughes is Professor of Personality and Organisational Psychology at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester. He serves as Programme Director for both the M.Sc. Organisational Psychology and M.Sc. Business Psychology programs. With a career spanning academia and practical application, Hughes has established himself as a leading expert in personality and organizational psychology.

Dr. Hughes completed his PhD at the University of Manchester, where his research identified personality traits that influence consumers' use of credit (loans, credit cards) and insurance (genuine and fraudulent claims). Prior to joining Manchester Business School in January 2015, he developed and directed the MSc. Business Psychology program at Coventry University.

Professor Hughes' research centers on individual differences, encompassing personality, emotions, and motives, with three primary focus areas: (i) the theoretical nature and measurement of individual differences, (ii) the role of individual differences in workplace contexts, and (iii) individual differences in unethical, impulsive, and deviant behavior. His work on the "three Cs" of personality—content, causes, and consequences—has led to significant contributions in personality assessment, including the development of the Personality Facet MAP, the most comprehensive model and measure of personality traits to date.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on personality structure, emotion regulation, and the impact of personality traits in educational and organizational settings. Hughes' work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in understanding how personality influences workplace behavior, student performance, and leadership effectiveness.

• Excellence in Practice Gold Award for executive education
• University-wide award for best research-led teacher
• University-wide award for best research supervisor
• Prestigious Distinguished Teacher Award (2022)
• Ranked within Stanford-Elsevier top 2% most impactful scientists

Professor Hughes has supervised 11 PhD students to completion, with research topics spanning adaptive personality regulation, emotional intelligence, innovative work behavior, team creativity, personality facet modeling, work breaks, leadership differentiation, dark personality traits, job-specific personality profiles, and interpersonal emotion regulation. His supervision approach emphasizes both theoretical rigor and practical relevance, preparing students for impactful careers in both academia and industry.

As an expert in psychometric tool development, Hughes has created numerous research instruments, developed the Accuracy and Appropriateness model of validation, co-edited the two-volume Wiley Handbook of Psychometric Testing, and developed psychometrics for high-stakes nuclear and legal sectors. His work with the Thomas Ashton Institute connects his research to broader societal implications and practical applications.