According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, ______ & ______ are processes included in the overall process of ______.

• A. Assimilation; accommodation; adaption
• B. Assimilation; accommodation; equilibration
• C. Accommodation; assimilation; adaption
• D. Assimilation; organization; adaption

Answer: (A)

Assimilation and accommodation are the two ways a child actively adjusts to new information, and they both function within the broader process of adaptation. Assimilation happens when new experiences are interpreted through existing schemas, so you fit the new information into what you already know. Accommodation occurs when those existing schemas are altered or new schemas are created to fit the new information. Together, assimilation and accommodation drive adaptation—the ongoing adjustment to the environment. Equilibration is the stabilizing mechanism that motivates moving between assimilation and accommodation to achieve balance, but the overall process described here is adaptation, not equilibration. The other options mix up terms or use a different process, whereas this pairing clearly fits as parts of adaptation.