In Piaget's theory, assimilation refers to which of the following?

• A. Incorporating new information into existing knowledge.
• B. Altering existing schemas in response to new information.
• C. Focusing cognitive development on emotional growth.
• D. Relying solely on innate knowledge without new input.

Answer: (B)

Assimilation is about fitting new information into existing mental frameworks without changing those frameworks. In Piaget’s view, when you encounter something new and you can understand it using what you already know, you’re assimilating. For example, a child with a schema for “dog” may label a newly seen four-legged, furry animal as a dog, because it matches the existingDog concept rather than creating a new category. Accommodation, on the other hand, happens when the new information doesn’t fit, and the child adjusts their schemas to incorporate the new idea. The other options don’t describe assimilation: one refers to changing schemas, another to emotional development, and another to innate knowledge without new input. So the best description is incorporating new information into existing knowledge.