Empirical describes someone who trusts observable evidence more than belief, intuition, tradition, or wishful thinking. People high in this trait may be skeptical of claims that cannot be tested, verified, or connected to real-world evidence. They often want to know what can actually be observed before deciding what is true.

At its best, this trait can show up as clear thinking, scientific caution, intellectual honesty, and resistance to being fooled by unsupported claims. At its extreme, it can become dismissiveness toward meaning, emotion, imagination, or forms of understanding that are difficult to measure directly.

A recognizable fictional example is Dana Scully from The X-Files. She represents someone who approaches strange claims with skepticism, looks for evidence, and tries to ground her conclusions in what can be observed and verified.