What does Piaget's principle of adaptation consist of?

Piaget’s principle of adaptation is fundamentally comprised of two core processes: assimilation and accommodation. Assimilation is the process by which individuals incorporate new information into existing cognitive schemas, or frameworks of understanding. This means that when a person encounters a new experience, they interpret it based on what they already know. In contrast, accommodation occurs when existing schemas are altered or new schemas are created in response to new information that doesn’t fit into previous understanding. Together, these processes enable individuals to adjust to new experiences and information effectively.

This principle is essential in understanding cognitive development, as it illustrates how individuals balance new inputs with their existing knowledge. In Piaget's view, cognitive development is a dynamic process shaped by these dual processes of adaptation, which allow for the growth of more complex thought patterns and deeper understanding of the world. Thus, recognizing the interplay between assimilation and accommodation is crucial in grasping how learning and intellectual adaptation progress in children and throughout life.