Final answer:
Metacognition refers to the process of monitoring and controlling one's own mental processes and is the correct answer to the question posed. It is integral to the development of higher-order thinking and critical reflection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Monitoring and controlling one's own mental processes is known as metacognition. This process is central to higher-order thinking and critical reflection. It includes various activities such as checking, planning, selecting, inferring, self-interrogating, and interpreting an ongoing experience. Through regular practice of metacognitive behaviors, individuals can enhance their ability to engage in abstract, rational thought, necessary for fields like philosophy and critical thinking.
To answer the student's question, the correct option is a) Metacognition. This involves a level of self-awareness that allows one to critically assess and regulate their thought processes, becoming skeptical of gut reactions and reconsidering cognitive tendencies and biases.