Assimilation (psychophysiology)

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Assimilation from a psychophysiological point of view was defined by Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920) as the adjustment of a new content of consciousness to the material in readiness . He also calls assimilations »those simultaneous associations ... which arise in the change of given psychic structures through the action of elements of other structures«. Assimilation consists in the association between the elements of similar psychic structures, whereby older conceptual elements merge with new ones through a new conception emerging in consciousness. The older impressions are called the assimilating elements, the new ones the assimilated elements. The decisive properties of assimilation consist in the fact that 'it consists 1) of a sum of elementary connecting processes, i. H. those that do not relate to the whole of the idea, but to its constituent parts, and that in it 2) the connecting elements have a changing effect on one another in the sense of mutual assimilation ". Assimilation is "a form of association that can be continuously observed in the formation of intense and spatial ideas and that complements the process of fusion". “It is most clearly demonstrable when individual components of the assimilation product are given by an external sensory impression, while other ideas belong to earlier ideas. In this case, assimilation can be established precisely by the fact that certain components which are absent from the objective impression or which are represented by others can be shown to originate from earlier ideas ”. These characteristics, which lack the objective impression, are also referred to as illusions . Wundt says: “This mode of formation [of assimilation] emerges most clearly in the representations when the assimilating elements arise through reproduction, the assimilated through an immediate sensory impression. The elements of memory images are then, as it were, transferred into the external object, so that, especially when the object and the reproduced elements differ considerably, the complete sensory perception appears as an illusion that deceives us about the real nature of things. "Assimilations occur especially when it comes to aural ideas, intense feelings, but especially when it comes to spatial ideas. Assimilation is also the basis of the process of recognition and recognition.

Reception and similarities

Wundt's concept of assimilation is similar to Leibniz's (1646–1716) concept of apperception . Wundt dealt with Leibniz. According to CG Jung , the principle of approximation does not exist in apperception; there is only an affiliation with apperception . Jung uses the concept of assimilation in the sense of the approximation of the object to the subject. He distinguishes it from dissimilation, by which he understands the assimilation of the subject to the object. Dissimulation, however, means the alienation of the subject from itself in favor of the object, also in the sense of a psychological object like an idea .

Individual evidence

  1. a b Wundt, Wilhelm : Logic . (a) Re. "Adjustment": Vol. I., page 20; (b) Re. "Designation": Vol. II., page 16 ff.
  2. a b c d Wundt, Wilhelm: Outline of Psychology. (a) on stw. "simultaneous associations": Vol. V., page 270; (b) Re. “Sum of elementary conceptual components”: Vol. V., page 280; (c) on stw. "incorrect objective impressions": Vol. V., page 274; (d) Regarding “hearing ideas”: Vol. V., page 274 ff.
  3. a b Wundt, Wilhelm: Fundamentals of physiological psychology . (a) Re. “Designation of older and more recent impressions”: Vol. I., page 20; (b) Re. "Illusion":
  4. Wundt, Wilhelm: Leibniz . Kröner, Leipzig 1917.
  5. ^ Jung, Carl Gustav : Definitions . In: Collected Works. Walter-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1995, paperback, special edition, volume 6, psychological types, ISBN 3-530-40081-5 , article "Assimilation": page 443 f., § 685-686.

Web links

  • Rudolf Eisler: Dictionary of Philosophical Terms . 1904, article "Assimilation" online