Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, Bsc

What is metacognition?

Metacognition is the process of thinking about one’s own thinking, or “cognition about cognition.” It involves being aware of and reflecting on one’s own cognitive processes, such as paying attention, remembering, and problem-solving.

Metacognitive skills include the ability to plan, monitor, and evaluate one’s own learning, as well as the ability to regulate one’s own thinking and behavior. These skills are important for effective learning, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Metacognition can involve a range of activities, such as setting goals for learning, breaking complex tasks down into smaller steps, self-testing to assess one’s own understanding, and seeking feedback from others to improve one’s own performance.

How can you strengthen your metacognition abilities?

Metacognitive skills can be developed and improved through practice and experience. It is important to foster metacognitive skills in children and students, as they can help individuals become more independent and self-directed learners.

Is it proof of the soul, then?

From a psychological standpoint, metacognition is a cognitive process that involves thinking about one’s own thinking and cognitive processes, such as attention, memory, and problem-solving. It has nothing to do with the concept of the soul.

The concept of the soul is a philosophical and religious belief that is defined differently by various belief systems. Some believe that the soul is an immortal and incorporeal essence that is the true essence of a person, while others see it as a non-physical aspect of a person that is separate from the body.

There is no scientific evidence to support the existence of the soul, and the concept of the soul is not directly related to metacognition or any other scientific concept. Belief in the existence of the soul is a matter of personal belief and faith.

However, on a more personal note, the notion of metacognition resembles very much the concept of the soul. The idea that something is watching over the brain and can monitor and decide for the body and brain alike, as a third party, feels like proof ‘we’ are more than what simple medical definitions can explain. Metacognition, to me, is the silence between thoughts, the pauses, the higher self keeping the physical being in check: the essence that took over the body.