When individuals learn from existing cognitive schemes, which process are they undergoing?

The process of assimilation occurs when individuals incorporate new information into their existing cognitive frameworks or schemes. This means that when individuals encounter new experiences or information, they fit this new data into what they already know, without changing their existing mental structures. For example, if a child knows that a dog is a four-legged animal and then sees a cat, they may categorize the cat as another type of dog because they are applying their existing understanding of what "four-legged" means. Assimilation allows for the development of more complex understandings as old concepts are stretched to include new experiences.

In this context, assimilation is key in cognitive development because it helps individuals connect new experiences to prior knowledge, thereby facilitating learning in a way that builds upon what they have already learned.