Question

What is the difference between assimilation and accommodation? Provide examples of each.

Short answer

Assimilation is when new experiences are understood within the context of existing schemas or models of understanding, like identifying a wolf as a dog. Meanwhile, accommodation refers to the alteration of these schemas as a result of new experiences which might not fit into them, such as realizing that wolves are distinct from dogs and thus changing their understanding of the concept of 'dog'

Step-by-step solution

Define Assimilation

Assimilation is the cognitive process of fitting new information into existing cognitive schemas, perceptions, and understanding. This means that when you are faced with new information, you make sense of this information by relating it to things that you already know. A clear example can be a child, who already understands about the concept of 'dogs', assimilates when they encounter a wolf and understand it as just another type of 'dog'.

Define Accommodation

Accommodation is the cognitive process of revising existing cognitive schemas, perceptions, and understanding so that new information can be incorporated. Here, the pre-existing knowledge doesn't fit the new information, hence you need to change what you already know to make the new information fit in. For example, the child who first called a wolf a 'dog' may later learn that there are significant differences between the two. At that point, accommodation happens, where they adjust their category of 'dog' to accommodate this new information.