Is this thing we lack an ability called "mimicry?"

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In the mist (midst?) of our past, when we were doing something besides learning how to look, act, and behave like others, were we instead trying to rationalize what we were seeing in order to understand it? I feel as though this may be the case.

Describing the idea to myself I think of the words "monkey see......monkey do." Here from Wikipedia:

"Monkey see, monkey do is a pidgin-style saying that appeared in American culture in the early 1920s. The saying refers to the learning of a process without an understanding of why it works. Another definition implies the act of mimicry, usually with limited knowledge and/or concern of the consequences."

Is this the "ability" we all "lack?" The copying of facial expression and social mannerisms? That many might appreciate "not" having? Could this (properly implemented) be the next step in rational progress for mankind?

(No delusions here...no sir ).

No, it is an inherent social understanding. Mimicry is different skill that not everyone is good at it. You might be thinking of Mirroring which is body language phenomenon (but far from all there is to body language) . This not something that easily done consciously.

Inherent social understanding is not be confused with a conscious understanding.

This is a VERY important distinction. Thee reason is having inherent understanding doesn't equal a conscious awareness of this, which is why asking is necessarily going to result in accurate representation (sometimes you will get contradictory information). Instead of asking observation of behavior over time is the best way to learn.

If you are intelligent you can compensate and learn, you just don't have the instantaneous reaction. Always play to your strengths don't mimic, adapt.

It is not separate from animal instincts. It is pretty much a subset of it.

Damage isn't really an accurate term that can be used. There brain is plastic, "deficit" that can be filled with other.

Most of this does relate to the frontal lobe however, but that is becuase there is "executive" control. We may still have the functional mechanism present but not the executive to pull it all together.