What Is Metacognition? Mindfulness, Meta-Awareness, and Other Metacognitive Strategies (#34)

What is metacognition? Metacognition is a modern term coined in 1979 by the American developmental psychologist John H. Flavell. He defined it as “cognition about cognitive phenomena,” or “thinking about thinking”. But the concept of metacognition has been around long before that in philosophy. "Meta", meaning beyond or above, signals that metacognition is a form of thinking above our usual cognitive processes. And in this podcast episode, we work through the varying layers of metacognition and meta-awareness and how metacognitive skills can make us better learners and better people.

Timestamps:

• [04:45] What is metacognition?
• [08:25] Examining how you learn
• [12:33] The bird's eye view and how metacognitive therapy can help with depression
• [17:07]  Metacogni-ception: the layers of metacognition
• [19:27] Mindfulness, Meta-awareness, and mind wandering
• [28:00]  What is the difference between meditation and mindfulness?
• [30:05] Modular model of the mind and the importance of embracing contradiction
• [40:44] Camping and de-camping between viewpoints/opinions
• [47:39]