Elemental psychopathy assessment's nomological net: A meta-analytic review

Abstract

Psychopathy is a longstanding construct of great clinical interest, marked by traits such as Callousness, manipulativeness, and impulsivity. The Elemental Psychopathy Assessment (EPA; Lynam et al., 2011) was developed to anchor the measurement of psychopathy within the five-factor model of personality. This preregistered study presents a meta-analytic review of the EPA's construct validity, examining its relations at the domain and total levels with other psychopathy measures, personality traits, and psychopathological outcomes. Drawing from 50 studies across 38 articles, over 3,500 effect sizes were analyzed. EPA Antagonism showed strong convergent validity with constructs like Triarchic Model of Psychopathy Meanness and Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-III Callous Affect, while EPA Disinhibition was closely linked to impulsivity-related traits such as Triarchic Model of Psychopathy Disinhibition and Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-III Erratic Lifestyle. EPA Narcissism was associated with interpersonal dominance and Manipulation, whereas EPA Emotional Stability generally showed positive relations with adaptive traits and outcomes. Antagonism and Disinhibition emerged as the core psychopathy traits, while the role of Emotional Stability remained uncertain due to its varied associations with maladaptive outcomes. Moderator analyses revealed differences across sample types and EPA versions. These findings offer meta-analytic support for the EPA's validity, highlighting the centrality of Antagonism and Disinhibition, and the complexity of Emotional Stability in the psychopathy construct. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).