Counselor Education Comprehensive Exam (CECE) Practice Exam

What is the process called when existing cognitive frameworks are used to understand new information?

1. Assimilation

2. Accommodation

3. Symbolic representation

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: Assimilation

The process of using existing cognitive frameworks to understand new information is known as assimilation. This concept is rooted in Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, where assimilation occurs when individuals integrate new experiences or information into their pre-existing cognitive structures or schemas. For instance, if a child has a schema for dogs and encounters a new type of dog they have never seen before, they will assimilate this new information by recognizing it as a dog based on their prior knowledge. In contrast, accommodation is the process that occurs when existing schemas are modified or new schemas are created in response to new information that does not fit into existing frameworks. Symbolic representation refers to the ability to use symbols (like words or images) to represent objects or experiences, which is a broader cognitive skill that doesn't strictly define how we use existing knowledge to understand new stimuli. Therefore, the focused use of established cognitive frameworks in understanding new information precisely describes the phenomenon of assimilation.