I have found a lot of older women (around my age) show some of the signs. I guess it's an effect of their life experience. I don't think they are true Sociopaths.

There is one lady (43) who I know that stands out. Lovely to look at... Natural blond, slim with generous proportions.
Caring and Affectionate on the surface but in time I discovered her to be an alcoholic and a manipulator - Which may explain the "Caring and Affectionate".
Her health has suffered and now has "Celiac Disease". I believe in her case, caused by excessive dieting/purging and drinking.

It's as if she doesn't care about herself. Her personal hygiene is almost non existent and if you try and confront her she just says... "I like a drink, It's just who I am".

No... Fish are not self aware. They don't even know they are alive.

...like some humans?
The human mind is capable of denying the greatest immediate threats and moral travesties, yet capable of consentrating on understanding the smallest of circumstances.
Sometimes these can occur simultaneously.

This borders on parf, but elephant herds have been witnessed gathering and remaining at the site of a deceased alpha, sometimes until death. There exists advanced intelligence/behaviour in many forms.

My aunt...

The local DA refered to her as the most manipulative person he has ever met....

And that's the problem. Humans are very good at complicating their lives beyond belief. They don't make sound decisions and often react emotionally.

True Sociopaths have little or next to no regard for others and therefore often damage other people while getting what they want.

All of us do things we know are wrong. But in general we do our best to avoid hurting others by avoiding conflict and respecting other people rights.
For instance... When a "normal" person takes a dump in someone else's life they walk away feeling awful and they try to rationalize/justify their behavior.
A true Sociopath feels no need to justify anything.

After dealing with one of the most manipulative and back stabbing individuals I had ever met, I became very interested in this matter. Long story short: Four percent of the population are sociopaths, so you are likely to have come in contact with more than one of them in your lifetime.

Won't bore you with the details. If you wish to learn more about these individuals I'd recommend an easy to read, but very informative, book written by Martha Stout, PhD. " The Sociopath Next Door".

An equally informative and fascinating look into psychopathy is "Without Conscience", by Robert D.Hare, PhD.

T9

Thanks for the book references. I'll check them out. Knowledge is always empowering.

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It's interesting that your figure of 4% is also similar to the figure the Armed forces quote (world wide) as civilians being ready to kill without additional "training".

In other words... One guy in 20 doesn't need to be conditioned to kill when ordered.
That guy will do it without it affecting his personality or conscience.

The other 19 guys have to be trained to kill when ordered through repetitive training, weapons training and drill.
The problem is these same guys are not un-conditioned when they leave the forces.

Someone needs to ask Sniper....

Profile of the Sociopath

This link that Embraer posted is excellent... and thorough.

The real question is :
Would sociopaths care one way or another if they knew they are a sociopath.

And the answer is probably "not one bit"

I expect I've dealt with a few in business...

Many of those traits listed are extremely condusive to being successful in business....
Other traits exist in almost everyone.
Some contradict each other.

There is the core personality which never changes, there is the learned personality based around societal circumstance, and there are temporary actions out of necessity.
If someone acts like a sociopath, does that make them one?

Yes. It's all about behavior.

My mom has some mental health issues. Not really something I would like to go into detail about.

The answer is no, they don't know. They come up for air sometimes and look around. But I think the real world is to frightening for them. I don't know. But it makes me very sad.