We use specific words in writing to mean specific things; there is no exact synonym for 'dichotomy' in the English language. The word is very common in academic and non-academic literature.

Meta-cognition is a compound word, where both parts are widely known, and the combination should be pretty obvious.

'Monocausal determinism' is different, very specific, and probably only known to a minority of readers. Determinism, the idea that everything within a system happens exactly according to cause and effect, comes from ontology, which is the study of existence and our place in the world. Mono derives from old greek single. Monocausal determinism is the idea that everything within a system derives from a single cause.

It is not a writers duty to be understood by everyone. Sure is nice, but more difficult to pull of, and often futile.