the difference between assimilation and accommodation.
http://www.answers.com/topic/assimilation
Scroll down to the definition/explanation under Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health.
http://www.answers.com/topic/accommodation and http://www.answers.com/topic/adaptation
Read several of the definitions for both of these.
Consider what the two concepts have in common, and then their differences will become clearer to you.
Post what you think ... whenever you're ready. Someone here will check your work for you.
Assimilation and accommodation are two concepts introduced by Jean Piaget, a renowned psychologist, to explain how individuals learn and adapt to new information and experiences. Let's explore the difference between these two concepts:
Assimilation:
Assimilation refers to the process of incorporating new information or experiences into existing mental structures, which are known as schema. In other words, when we assimilate new information, we interpret it based on our existing knowledge and incorporate it into our existing understanding of the world.
For example, imagine a child who has only seen dogs. If the child sees a cat for the first time, they might assimilate it into their existing schema of "dog" since they have no previous knowledge of cats. The child may call the cat a dog because they are trying to fit the new information into their existing schema.
Accommodation:
Accommodation, on the other hand, refers to the process of modifying existing mental structures, or schema, in order to incorporate new information or experiences that cannot be assimilated. It involves changing our way of thinking to adapt to new situations or information.
Building upon the previous example, if the child realizes that cats are different from dogs and develop a new schema specifically for cats, accommodation is taking place. The child modifies their understanding of animals to distinguish between dogs and cats, and their schema now includes both animal types.
In summary, assimilation involves incorporating new information into existing mental structures, while accommodation entails modifying existing mental structures to fit new information or experiences that cannot be assimilated. These two processes work together to promote cognitive development and the acquisition of knowledge as individuals encounter and interact with their environment.