Metacognition: history, definition of the concept and theories

Metacognition allows us to "think that we think". The theory of mind explains this concept.

One of the main abilities of human beings is the ability to think thoughts, which is a summary definition of the term "metacognition".

This is an ability that is possibly only present in the Homo sapiens (although other extinct hominid species probably also possessed it) and, although we do not realize it, it brings us a world of possibilities.

In this article we will see exactly what metacognition is and how it influences our lives. and how it influences our lives, as well as some psychological theories that address this phenomenon.

The concept of metacognition

The concept of metacognition is usually used in the field of psychology and the behavioral and cognitive sciences to refer to the capacity, possibly only found in humans, to attribute one's own thoughts, ideas and judgments to other people and to oneself.

Although metacognition is a commonly used concept in scientific circles and among the academic community, it is not currently a term accepted by the Real Academia Española de la Lengua (RAE).

There is, however, a consensus among cognitive psychology scholars when it comes to defining metacognition as an innate capacity in human beings. This ability allows us to understand and be aware of our own thoughts, but also of the ability of others to think and judge reality.

Metacognition, related to the concept of theory of mind, also enables us to anticipate our own and others' behavior by constantly perceiving the emotions, attitudes and feelings of others, which allows us to hypothesize how they will act in the future.

Examples of metacognition

As in psychology it is always easier to understand concepts through examples, let's look at some of them related to metacognition in the day-to-day life of an ordinary person.

• Using mnemonic techniques to facilitate the memorization of university notes.
• Considering the reasonableness of what we think about another person's intentions, examining the possibility that we may be biased by prejudice.
• Decide whether to buy one book or another depending on whether we think we will have difficulty understanding its contents.
• Schedule a distribution of breaks during a study session to recover attention span after each short pause.
• Think about whether we are confusing or mixing the meaning of two different concepts.
• Evaluate the strategies we use to concentrate on our work and not get distracted.

• You may be interested in "What is the frontal lobe and how does it work?"

Main research

The concept of metacognition has been widely studied by the cognitive sciences, and its importance is rooted in areas such as personality, learning, self-concept and social psychology. Several scholars stand out in this field.

Bateson and metacognition in animals

Among these experts, it is essential to mention the English anthropologist and psychologist Gregory Bateson, who initiated studies on metacognition in animals. Bateson noticed that dogs used to play among themselves simulating small and harmless fights and he detected that, through different detected that, through different signals, the dogs became aware that they were in a fictitious fight (a simple game) or that they were in a real and potentially dangerous fight. (a simple game) or they were facing a real and potentially dangerous fight.

Metacognition in humans

In humans, metacognition begins to appear at an early stage begins to appear already in early stages of development, during childhood.. Between the ages of three and five, children begin to show concrete responses that, in the eyes of researchers, correspond to the activation of their capacity for metacognition.

Experts point out that metacognition is a capacity that is latent in human beings from birth, but that only becomes 'active' when the child's maturity stage reaches the appropriate conditions, in addition to a correct stimulation of their cognitive abilities.

After the infant stage, we humans constantly employ metacognition, and this allows us to anticipateThis allows us to anticipate other people's attitudes and behaviors. Although, of course, we use metacognition unconsciously.

Psychopathologies related to the absence of metacognition

In some circumstances, metacognition does not develop adequately.. In these cases, the absence or difficulties in activating metacognition are due to the presence of certain psychopathologies. This diagnosis can be made through certain evaluation criteria designed for this purpose.

When children do not develop metacognition in a normative way, it may be due to different causes. There are experts who point out that autism could be caused by dysfunctions in theory of mind.

Theories addressing metacognition

Metacognition and the theory of mind have been consistently addressed by psychology.. In general terms, the concept is usually defined as the way in which individuals reason and apply thought to reflect (unconsciously) on how others act. Metacognition, therefore, enables us to apprehend some aspects about our environment and allows us to reflect, giving us better tools to carry out our desires and ideas.

Metacognition is also a skill that allows us to manage a Wide range of cognitive processes, from the simplest to the most complex.

John H. Flavell

One of the most cited authors on the concept of metacognition and theory of mind is the American developmental psychologist John H. Flavell. This expert in cognitive psychology, who was a disciple of Jean Piaget, is considered one of the pioneers in the study of metacognition and theory of mind, is considered one of the pioneers in the study of metacognition.. According to Flavell, metacognition is the way in which human beings understand their own and others' cognitive functions, anticipating the intentions, ideas and attitudes of others.

Constructivism

The constructivist school proposes certain nuances around the concept of metacognition. It points out, from the outset, that the human brain is not a simple receiver of inputs It is also an organ that allows us to create psychic structures that end up constituting, for example, our personality, through our memories and knowledge.

According to constructivism, then, learning is linked to the personal and subjective history of the individual, as well as to his or her way of approaching and interpreting (making sense of) the knowledge he or she acquires. This knowledge includes that which refers to what one believes oneself to be known by others, what they intend, etc. Thus, one or another style of metacognition has implications for the way in which the individual learns to integrate into social spaces.

Metacognition and learning: "learning to learn".

The concept of metacognition is also commonly used in the field of psycho-pedagogy and teaching. In the processes involved in learning, the educational system should try to emphasize the personal abilities of each student that are related to the way he or she learns and understands concepts. In this sense, it is interesting to formulate an educational curriculum that is permeable to the cognitive needs of students and that stimulates this capacity.

One of the ways to enhance metacognition in the classroom is to develop a teaching style that takes into account the cognitive skills, abilities and competencies, as well as the emotional management of students, so as to achieve a better connection between the learner and the object of study, fostering meaningful learning.promoting meaningful learning. This learning style must go hand in hand with a personalized treatment of the students.

Thus, theory of mind and metacognition can help us to understand and make our learning more efficient, through planning and evaluating our approach to learning.