Cheryl Willard - Lee College

Critical Thinking Concept #6:
Avoiding Assimilation Bias
Schemas are perceptual frameworks, or categories, that help us to keep our knowledge
about the world organized. Psychologist, Jean Piaget, suggested that two complimentary
processes are at work as we form various schemata: assimilation, which is fitting new
information in to an already existing schema; and, accommodation, which is changing or
revising our schemas in the face of new evidence.
Assimilation is necessary because it allows us to catalog and make connections between
what would otherwise be an overwhelming amount of information. However, we sometimes
encounter experiences that don’t fit our existing schemas. In such cases, if we would put aside
our preconceived notions and make the necessary accommodations in our schemas in order to
allow for a correction of the facts, we would be in good shape. This is what good scientists do.
If a theory does not adequately explain observed phenomena, they will change their theory to fit
the facts (rather than interpreting the facts to fit the theory).
So, are people in general good scientists in this respect? The research suggests not.
Studies show that people tend to distort, overlook, or discard information that is incongruent with
their schemas, exhibiting a bias in the direction of assimilation rather than resolving the
discrepancy through accommodation (Levy, 2003).
Psychotherapists often identify themselves as being associated with a particular
theoretical orientation which guides their understanding and treatment of their clients. These
theoretical lenses can produce the same kinds of cognitive distortions and selective
interpretations as any other schemas.
The assignment which follows will give students some practice with changing schematic
lenses, thus providing the opportunity for a more balanced and less biased approach for
understanding the complexity of human behavior.
28