What is the term for the ability to think about one's own thinking?

What is the term for the ability to think about one's own thinking?

• A. Metacognition
• B. Egocentrism
• C. Conservation
• D. Abstract Reasoning

Answer: (A)

Metacognition is the term for thinking about how you think. It means being aware of your own mental processes—how you learn, plan, monitor your understanding, and evaluate your progress. You might plan a strategy before tackling a task, check as you go to see if you understand, and adjust your approach if you’re getting stuck. This self-reflection on cognition distinguishes it from other ideas: egocentrism is about viewing the world from one’s own perspective, conservation is about understanding that quantity stays the same despite changes in appearance, and abstract reasoning is about manipulating ideas and symbols, not about reflecting on your own thinking.

Metacognition is the term for thinking about how you think. It means being aware of your own mental processes—how you learn, plan, monitor your understanding, and evaluate your progress. You might plan a strategy before tackling a task, check as you go to see if you understand, and adjust your approach if you’re getting stuck. This self-reflection on cognition distinguishes it from other ideas: egocentrism is about viewing the world from one’s own perspective, conservation is about understanding that quantity stays the same despite changes in appearance, and abstract reasoning is about manipulating ideas and symbols, not about reflecting on your own thinking.