The social mind refers to the idea that human thinking is inherently connected to other people. Our cognitive processes—like reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making—do not happen in isolation but are shaped by our interactions with others. Essentially:

Humans are social creatures, and our thinking develops through communication, collaboration, and shared experiences.

Even when we are alone, the ways we organize thoughts, use language, or solve problems are influenced by social norms, cultural practices, and the knowledge of others.

This concept comes from theorists like Lev Vygotsky, who argued that higher mental functions are first developed socially, then internalized individually.

Example: A child learning to count may first use their fingers while counting aloud with a parent. Later, the child can count silently “inside their head,” but the original social interaction guided their internal thinking.