Which term best describes the process of modifying existing beliefs in light of new information?

• A. Accommodations
• B. Integration
• C. Assimilation
• D. Adaptation

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is how we handle new information within what we already believe. Assimilation happens when you interpret new experiences using your existing mental schemas, adapting the new information to fit your current beliefs rather than changing the belief system itself. So, when new information is integrated by tweaking how you apply or understand it within your current framework, you’re assimilating. This is why it’s the best fit for “modifying existing beliefs in light of new information”—you adjust your understanding to align with your existing structure rather than altering the structure itself. The other terms describe changing the beliefs or switching schemas to fit new information, or refer to broader adjustments, and don’t capture the same process as cleanly.