Assimilation vs. Accommodation: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Assimilation integrates new information into existing schemas, while accommodation adjusts schemas for new information.
Key Differences
Assimilation involves the incorporation of new experiences into pre-existing cognitive schemas, meaning that when encountering something new, one tries to fit it into what they already know. In contrast, Accommodation is about altering existing cognitive schemas or creating new ones when existing schemas cannot adequately explain new experiences. Assimilation is akin to adding new books to an existing shelf, while accommodation is building a new shelf altogether.
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Nov 16, 2023
In Assimilation, the focus is on the seamless integration of new information. For example, a child who only knows about blue birds might assimilate by labeling all birds as blue. However, Accommodation requires more substantial cognitive changes. This same child, upon encountering a red bird, would accommodate by understanding that birds can come in various colors, thereby modifying their bird schema.
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While Assimilation is a smoother cognitive process that seamlessly blends new information with the old, Accommodation can be more disruptive, requiring a reorganization of thought. Assimilation could be seen in learning new words in a language you're fluent in, while accommodation would be used when you must learn new grammatical rules in a new language.
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Assimilation can be more common in day-to-day experiences, where slight modifications are sufficient for new information. For instance, reading a new genre of book doesn't change your concept of what a book is. However, Accommodation is invoked during more profound learning experiences, like understanding that a tablet is also a form of a book, which may alter your concept of reading mediums.
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Nov 16, 2023
Lastly, Assimilation is a concept that emphasizes continuity in learning and cognition, while Accommodation underscores the adaptive nature of cognition. Assimilation keeps the cognitive structure stable, whereas accommodation is the mechanism that allows the structure to change in response to new situations.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Integrating new information into existing schemas
Adjusting or creating new schemas for new information
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Cognitive Process
Less complex, adding to existing knowledge
More complex, altering existing knowledge structures
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Example in Language
Learning new vocabulary in a known language
Learning syntax in a new language
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Change Involved
Minimal, often superficial changes
Significant, often fundamental changes
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Nature of Learning
Continuous and additive
Adaptive and sometimes transformative
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Assimilation and Accommodation Definitions
Assimilation
In biology, assimilation is the incorporation of substances into the cells of an organism.
Plants assimilate carbon during photosynthesis.
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Accommodation
In linguistics, accommodation is the adjustment of one's speech patterns to match others'.
When moving to a new region, people may accommodate their accent to blend in with locals.
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Assimilation
Assimilation is the process of absorbing new information into one's existing cognitive structure.
Learning the word canine is assimilation for a child who knows the word dog.
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Accommodation
The act of accommodating or the state of being accommodated; adjustment.
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Assimilation
In phonology, assimilation is a process where a sound becomes similar to an adjacent sound.
In English, the word input is often pronounced with a nasal 'm' sound due to assimilation.
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Assimilation
Assimilation refers to the adaptation of cultural elements from one group by another.
The assimilation of food from immigrant cultures into American cuisine is widespread.
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Assimilation
(Physiology) The conversion of nutriments into living tissue; constructive metabolism.
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Accommodation
(Physiology) The automatic adjustment in the focal length of the lens of the eye to permit retinal focus of images of objects at varying distances.
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Assimilation
(Linguistics) The process by which a sound is modified so that it becomes similar or identical to an adjacent or nearby sound. For example, the prefix in- becomes im- in impossible by assimilation to the labial p of possible.
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Assimilation
The process whereby a minority group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture.
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Accommodation
Lodging in a dwelling or similar living quarters afforded to travellers in hotels or on cruise ships, or prisoners, etc.
The accommodations at that hotel were quite luxurious.
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Accommodation
The act of fitting or adapting, or the state of being fitted or adapted; adaptation; adjustment.
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Assimilation
(by extension) The absorption of new ideas into an existing cognitive structure.
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Assimilation
(phonology) A sound change process by which the phonetics of a speech segment becomes more like that of another segment in a word (or at a word boundary), so that a change of phoneme occurs.
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Assimilation
The adoption, by a minority group, of the customs and attitudes of the dominant culture.
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Accommodation
The adjustment of the eye to a change of the distance from an observed object.
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Assimilation
The act or process of assimilating or bringing to a resemblance, likeness, or identity; also, the state of being so assimilated; as, the assimilation of one sound to another.
To aspire to an assimilation with God.
The assimilation of gases and vapors.
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Assimilation
The conversion of nutriment into the fluid or solid substance of the body, by the processes of digestion and absorption, whether in plants or animals.
Not conversing the body, not repairing it by assimilation, but preserving it by ventilation.
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Assimilation
The state of being assimilated; people of different backgrounds come to see themselves as part of a larger national family
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Accommodation
Adjustment of differences; state of agreement; reconciliation; settlement; compromise.
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Assimilation
The social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another
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Accommodation
(countable) The application of a writer's language, on the ground of analogy, to something not originally referred to or intended.
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Assimilation
The process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion
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Assimilation
A linguistic process by which a sound becomes similar to an adjacent sound
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Assimilation
The process of assimilating new ideas into an existing cognitive structure
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Accommodation
An offer of substitute goods to fulfill a contract, which will bind the purchaser if accepted.
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Assimilation
In the theories of Jean Piaget: the application of a general schema to a particular instance
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Accommodation
(theology) An adaptation or method of interpretation which explains the special form in which the revelation is presented as unessential to its contents, or rather as often adopted by way of compromise with human ignorance or weakness.
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Assimilation
Assimilation in sociology pertains to the process by which individuals or groups adopt aspects of another culture.
Immigrants often face pressure for assimilation into the dominant culture of their new country.
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Accommodation
The place where sediments can make, or have made, a sedimentation.
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Accommodation
Modification(s) to make one's way of communicating similar to others involved in a conversation or discourse.
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Accommodation
The act of fitting or adapting, or the state of being fitted or adapted; adaptation; adjustment; - followed by to.
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Accommodation
Whatever supplies a want or affords ease, refreshment, or convenience; anything furnished which is desired or needful; - often in the plural; as, the accommodations - that is, lodgings and food - at an inn.
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Accommodation
An adjustment of differences; state of agreement; reconciliation; settlement.
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Accommodation
The application of a writer's language, on the ground of analogy, to something not originally referred to or intended.
Many of those quotations from the Old Testament were probably intended as nothing more than accommodations.
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Accommodation
A settlement of differences;
They reached an accommodation with Japan
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Accommodation
In the theories of Jean Piaget: the modification of internal representations in order to accommodate a changing knowledge of reality
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Accommodation
Living quarters provided for public convenience;
Overnight accommodations are available
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Accommodation
The act of providing something (lodging or seat or food) to meet a need
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Accommodation
(physiology) the automatic adjustment in focal length of the lens of the eye
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Accommodation
Accommodation refers to the cognitive process of revising existing cognitive schemas in light of new information.
A child learns that whales are not fish and revises their aquatic animal schema, demonstrating accommodation.
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Accommodation
In social contexts, accommodation is the adjustment of individuals to each other's presence.
In a diverse workplace, employees often make accommodations to respect cultural differences.
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Accommodation
Accommodation in ophthalmology is the eye's ability to change focus between distant and near objects.
Reading glasses aid in the accommodation of vision for close-up tasks.
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Accommodation
In hospitality, accommodation refers to lodging provided for travelers.
The hotel provides luxury accommodations for all guests.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Why is assimilation important?
Assimilation is important because it allows for the easy integration of new experiences without the need for significant cognitive change.
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What is assimilation in learning?
Assimilation in learning is integrating new information into existing mental frameworks or knowledge.
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What's an example of accommodation in social interaction?
In social interaction, accommodation may occur when people adjust their behaviors to be more in line with another's cultural practices.
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How does accommodation differ from assimilation?
Accommodation involves altering existing cognitive structures or creating new ones when old ones don't fit new information.
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How do assimilation and accommodation work together?
Assimilation and accommodation work together as complementary processes that facilitate cognitive growth and learning.
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Do assimilation and accommodation contribute to personality development?
Yes, they contribute to personality development by shaping how individuals perceive and interact with the world.
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Can assimilation occur without accommodation?
Yes, assimilation can occur without accommodation if new information fits within existing schemas without the need for alteration.
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Is accommodation a conscious process?
Accommodation can be both a conscious and unconscious process, depending on the individual's awareness of the cognitive adjustments being made.
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Can you give an example of assimilation?
An example of assimilation is a child seeing a zebra and calling it a horse because it fits their schema for four-legged animals.
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How does accommodation affect relationships?
Accommodation affects relationships by requiring individuals to adjust their expectations and behaviors to better coexist with others.
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Does assimilation affect language learning?
Yes, assimilation affects language learning by enabling learners to add new words and phrases to their existing linguistic knowledge.
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What are the signs of successful accommodation?
Successful accommodation is indicated by the ability to understand and incorporate new and complex information without confusion.
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How do educators use assimilation and accommodation?
Educators use these concepts to create learning experiences that build on existing knowledge and encourage cognitive development.
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What role does accommodation play in learning?
Accommodation plays a crucial role in learning by enabling individuals to revise their understanding when faced with new and conflicting information.
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Can cultural assimilation be reversed?
Cultural assimilation is not easily reversed as it involves deeply integrated changes in beliefs, values, and behaviors.
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Is there a limit to cognitive accommodation?
While there's no set limit, there may be practical constraints based on an individual's cognitive flexibility and openness to change.
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What happens if assimilation fails?
If assimilation fails, an individual may experience confusion or cognitive dissonance, which can lead to accommodation.
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Can adults experience assimilation and accommodation?
Yes, adults can and do experience both assimilation and accommodation as they encounter new information and experiences.
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Nov 16, 2023
Are assimilation and accommodation only applicable to children?
No, these processes are part of lifelong learning and cognitive development, applicable to both children and adults.
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Are assimilation and accommodation part of Piaget's theory?
Yes, they are key components of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development.
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Nov 16, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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