Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

What term describes the awareness that current beliefs cannot accommodate new information?

1. Assimilation

2. Disequilibrium

3. Accommodation

4. Social model of disability

The correct answer is: Disequilibrium

The term that describes the awareness that current beliefs cannot accommodate new information is disequilibrium. This concept comes from cognitive development theories, particularly those put forth by Jean Piaget. When individuals encounter new information that conflicts with their existing beliefs or understandings, they experience a state of cognitive imbalance or disequilibrium. In this state, individuals recognize that their current mental frameworks are inadequate to make sense of the new information. This awareness often prompts a desire to resolve the inconsistency, leading to either a change in beliefs or the development of new cognitive structures. This process is essential for learning and growth, as it drives individuals to adapt and refine their understanding of the world around them. The other options relate to different cognitive processes. Assimilation involves integrating new information into existing frameworks without changing those frameworks. Accommodation, on the other hand, is the process of altering existing beliefs to incorporate new information. The social model of disability discusses the societal implications of disability and is unrelated to cognitive processes regarding belief systems.