Counselor Education Comprehensive Exam (CECE) Practice Exam

Which theorist is associated with cognitive development and concepts such as assimilation and accommodation?

1. Jean Piaget

2. Albert Bandura

3. B.F. Skinner

4. Ivan Pavlov

The correct answer is: Jean Piaget

Jean Piaget is the theorist associated with cognitive development, particularly known for introducing the concepts of assimilation and accommodation. These processes are fundamental to how individuals integrate new information and experiences into their existing cognitive frameworks. Assimilation refers to the process of incorporating new information into pre-existing schemas, or mental models. For instance, if a child has a schema for 'dog' that includes all furry, four-legged animals, they may assimilate a new animal, like a cat, into that schema by simply saying, "That’s a dog too!" On the other hand, accommodation occurs when new information challenges the existing schemas, prompting a change or development in those schemas. For example, when the child learns that a cat is not a dog, they must accommodate their understanding by creating a new schema for cats. This dual process is essential to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which posits that individuals progress through stages of mental development as they interact with their environment. His work has had a lasting impact on fields such as psychology, education, and developmental science.