In search of the socioaffective and cognitive origins of humanity: what, if anything, is unique about human minds?

In this second set of explorations/meditations (of three), we examine potential sources of human cognitive uniqueness through comparative analysis with non-human primates, focusing particularly on theory of mind, analogical reasoning, and social learning capabilities. We review evidence suggesting that while humans share many cognitive foundations with other primates, we may be distinct in our capacity for abstract relational reasoning and understanding others' false beliefs. Drawing on research in developmental and comparative psychology, we explore how these capabilities may emerge through the interplay of innate predispositions and social learning. Special attention is given to the role of imitation and over-imitation in cultural learning, as well as the development of mirror self-recognition and its relationship to broader social-cognitive abilities. We also consider neurobiological factors that may contribute to human cognitive uniqueness, including patterns of brain integration and the role of social neuropeptides in shaping affiliative behaviors. We conclude by suggesting that human cognitive capabilities may be best understood as emerging from the dynamic interaction between domain-general processes like analogical reasoning and species-typical social motivations, laying groundwork for subsequent discussions of artificial intelligence and consciousness. This synthesis provides insight into both the continuities and discontinuities between human and non-human minds, with implications for understanding the requirements for developing human-like artificial intelligence.