What does assimilation refer to in Piaget's theory?

• A. Applying new information to existing schemas
• B. Reinterpreting new experiences to fit existing schemas
• C. Changing existing schemas to fit new information
• D. Developing new schemas to fit all experiences

Answer: (B)

Assimilation means interpreting new experiences by using your current schemas, without changing those mental frameworks. When something new can be understood through what you already know, you fit it into your existing ideas. For example, a child who has a schema for dogs as four-legged, furry pets may call a new four-legged animal they see a dog, because it fits that familiar idea. If the child later realizes the new animal isn’t a dog and adjusts their thinking or creates a new category, that would be accommodation, not assimilation. Developing entirely new schemas to cover all experiences goes beyond assimilation, since it involves forming new frameworks rather than fitting new input into what’s already understood.