In Piaget's theory of cognitive development, schemas are mental structures or frameworks that help individuals organize and interpret information about the world. Assimilation and accommodation are two key processes by which individuals adapt their schemas in response to new information.
Assimilation refers to the process of integrating new information into existing schemas without changing the schema itself. When a person encounters new experiences or information that fit into what they already know, they assimilate that information into their existing cognitive framework.
For example, a child who has a schema for "dog" (which includes a small, furry animal with four legs) might see a new breed of dog, like a Great Dane. The child recognizes the Great Dane as a dog rather than creating a new category. Therefore, they are assimilating this new information (the Great Dane) into their existing schema of dogs without altering that schema.
In summary, assimilation involves using current knowledge to understand new experiences by fitting them into preexisting frameworks. This process allows individuals to make sense of the world based on what they already know.