Assimilation (learning psychology)
Assimilation ( French assimilation , adjustment ') means in learning psychology the assignment of a perception to an existing perception scheme that is already used for similar perceptions. This generalizes a perception and classifies it as known.
According to Jean Piaget (developmental psychology), assimilation is one of two types of cognitive adaptation and serves to establish a state of equilibrium ( equilibration ). The complementary opposite of assimilation is accommodation , the adaptation of the inner world ( représentation du monde ) by creating a new scheme of perception ( French accomodation , adaptation).
example
Wauwau scheme : A child sees a small, white, fluffy, barking creature and the mother says "Wauwau". Later the child sees a big, brown, smooth-haired, barking creature and the mother says "Wauwau". Through further such experiences a bow-tie scheme emerges . This contains the characteristics typical for all dogs and excludes the atypical ones.
Such a scheme allows the child:
- even dogs that have never been seen to be classified as woofs .
- later the Bark scheme for the term dog to use
- later to use the term dog as a generic term for different dog breeds.
Individual evidence
- ^ Jean Piaget: La representation du monde chez l'enfant. Presses Universitaires de France (1947) Réimpression Quadrige (2005) ISBN 2-13-053978-5