What Is Assimilation Psychology?

Assimilation was initially described by the developmental psychologist Jean Piaget. Assimilation psychology is a branch of psychology that examines how individuals incorporate new information into their existing mental frameworks or schemas.Through assimilation, we may understand how we learn new things, and incorporate them into our worldview.

The psychological definition of assimilation and accommodation

Psychologists define assimilation as one of two ways people absorb knowledge. It may be seen in children, immigrants, and anyone at any stage of life who wants to evaluate and absorb new information. Piaget defined assimilation as a cognitive process in which we incorporate new information and experiences into our pre-existing ideas or viewpoints.

There are two ways that we may absorb new information. One way is through assimilation, and the other is through accommodation, a cognitive process in which new information replaces old beliefs. Assimilation can be more common, especially in adults, as information is often processed based on our existing belief system.

We may assimilate that information into our current belief system when we learn new information. For example, perhaps you believe your neighbor's daughter is a kind person. However, one day she throws a rock at your car by accident. If you assimilate this information, you might add the incident to your knowledge of the girl without changing your essential opinion of her. However, if you changed your opinion, that would be an example of accommodation.

Jean Piaget on assimilation psychology

Jean Piaget initially explained assimilation and accommodation. Piaget had many theories about cognitive development, primarily in children. His research in developmental psychology influenced how child development specialists might teach children today. Piaget was born in Switzerland in 1896 and lived until 1980. His work focused on childhood development and how children learn and process new information. Assimilation is one piece of his research but may be one of the most cited pieces because it explains how we incorporate information into our daily lives and beliefs.

Jean Piaget psychology is characterized by his theory of cognitive development. However, assimilation and accommodation can be relevant to all ages in the right circumstances.

Although the original theories were Piaget's, many psychologists have conducted and contributed to the research into how cognitive processes work. This research has, for the most part, backed up the theories of Piaget, including the theory of assimilation.

Examples of assimilation in psychology

There are many potential examples of assimilation. In child development, examples of assimilation might include an infant learning sensorimotor skills. As the child learns new ways to move and pick up objects, they incorporate this knowledge into their current worldview. 

Another example is a child learning math in school. Each new mathematical principle builds on the last, so the new information is assimilated and incorporated into what the child already knows about the subject.

Assimilation can be experienced among adults who move to a new country. Consider what it would be like to live in a foreign city. Over time, you may find yourself dressing or speaking differently. This process shows assimilation into the new culture.  

Your core beliefs about how the world works may not have changed, but your dress and behavior may have adapted to meet your current living conditions. However, many people reject the idea of assimilation because it can lead people to abandon their cultural identity.

Other examples of assimilation psychology

Any time we learn new information that does not change our core beliefs, the information may be assimilated into our cognitive processes. If we change our minds about our core beliefs based on the information, that is accommodation.

How the process of assimilation works

Assimilation can be a convenient way of incorporating new information during development, whether a child or an adult is learning something new. The theory was developed because children use what they know of the world to make sense of it. 

As children, when we learn something new, we associate that new information with current beliefs of the world, assimilating the information and building a knowledge base. As adults, we do this whenever we learn new information, such as new skills for a job.

Existing schemas and assimilation

A schema is a cognitive framework or concept that allows us to understand the world around us. Schemas can be necessary for the learning process because they are like a shortcut in our minds to the information we need. A lot of learning employs schemas as existing belief systems.

How are existing schemas and the process of assimilation connected?

Assimilation can be how we add information to the existing schemas that form our knowledge base. Through assimilation, we may add to our knowledge without changing our basic schema, or belief system. If we were to develop new schemas or replace them with new ones through learning, this would constitute the process of accommodation rather than assimilation.

How the knowledge of assimilation is used in cognitive development

Teachers and instructors use the theory and process of assimilation in a classroom environment. Whether a child is being educated in the ways of the world, or an adult is learning new skills and information, instructors may often use the same methods to help students assimilate new information. There are several ways that assimilation is used in a classroom setting.

Cognitive development: Staged learning and knowledge 

Children often learn math and other subjects in stages. They may build on their existing knowledge at each grade level to acquire new math skills and principles. Because they are adding to their knowledge without changing the basic schema, they are assimilating the information.

Corporate training 

Another example is how corporate training often takes place. Trainees may associate new information about the position they are taking in the company with their current knowledge and beliefs. By using what they already know to teach new information, the instructors use assimilation techniques to help trainees learn and remember the new information.

The assimilation theory has long been used in all levels of child development, teaching, research, and training. Teachers, instructors, professors, and corporate trainers can learn how to assist individuals and students in assimilating new information using these theories. 

A large portion of learning how to teach is often related to learning how cognitive processes work and how to encourage them. Assimilation can be just one of those stages of cognitive development.

Assimilation psychology and daily life

If you're a parent, you may see assimilation constantly happening with your children as they learn about the world around them. You may see this behavior in young infants and toddlers learning about the world. You may also use assimilation any time you learn new information.

In your daily life, you might come across new information frequently online. Often, Americans learn new information about the world around us, our jobs, our families, and the other people in our society. With each new piece of information, we are either assimilating or accommodating that knowledge.

Assimilation psychology: Getting psychological help to assimilate

There are some instances in which assimilation may be challenging for children or adults. Those who have interruptions to their cognitive processes may not assimilate information in the same way that most children and adults do. Assimilation may be challenging for our children or us. Any time there is a gap in learning, it can be helpful to evaluate the gap, discover its cause, and seek treatment.

If our children seem to have difficulty assimilating new information, it could signify a learning disability. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the autism spectrum, and other neurodiversity can make assimilating new information a struggle, or seemingly impossible. However, many resources are available to help us, and our children, learn new information.

Connecting with a therapist to explore assimilation may help you learn about your unique cognitive processes. Online therapy has shown to be especially beneficial for the public at large because it's often more affordable than in-person counseling, and it's made available by letting clients join a session from the comfort of their own homes. Moreover, ADDitude, which covers subjects concerning ADHD, described online therapy as a "vital lifeline" for people who live with the condition.