Accommodation

Accommodation means the „general term for the property of a system to achieve improved adaptation and performance by readjustments“ (Fröhlich 2010, 47). It derives from the Latin noun accomodatio „to adapt“ (cf. Scholze-Stubenrecht 1997, 42). In biology, accommodation refers to the „adaptation of the eye to different ranges of distance“ (Fröhlich 2010, 47). This term is also found in linguistics, religious studies, and learning psychology.

Cognitive processes of learning psychology

Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget introduced the term in his theory of children’s cognitive development. Accommodation is one of the two essential processes of children’s learning development. It represents the ability of a person to change his or her (learning) behavior, i.e. the way in which new impressions are processed. The opposite term is assimilation, which describes the integration of novel external impressions into already existing categories or systems without changing them (cf. Piaget 1983, 106 ff.).

An example of accommodation is a child who has the idea that all things are either solid or liquid. If this model of thinking is challenged by the experience of gas as a substance, he must adjust his view of states of aggregation. Such irritations are thus crucial points in learning processes.

Accommodation in the context of migration

Consequently, it is also possible to readjust our ways of thinking and acting within cultural learning processes. In migration research, accommodation is understood by Christine Langenfeld as the „functional learning and adaptation process resulting from cultural change.“ (Langenfeld 2001, 283) She assumes that accommodation „can occur in the individuals concerned without any change in fundamental beliefs, values, or ways of thinking“ (Langenfeld 2001, 283).

According to psychologist Werner Fröhlich, „environmental demands[, which] cannot be met with the currently available repertoire[e] of actions“ (Fröhlich 2010, 48) are one of the reasons for „disturbances of the inner equilibrium“ (ibid.) and thus trigger accommodation.

Accommodation – learning from ‚disturbances of equilibrium‘

According to Fröhlich’s definition, the so-called culturally ‚foreign‘, i.e. what is often seen as a disturbance in the context of German integration debates, can also be understood as an opportunity. For ‚disturbance of equilibrium‘, in Piaget’s sense, opens up the possibility for people to realign their ways of thinking and acting.

Sociologist Friedrich Heckmann describes an asymmetrical reciprocity: „The learning processes involve immigrants and natives. Although it is a reciprocal process, it is not equally weighted, in which the immigrants change more than the natives, who as the established control the resources of society“ (Heckmann 2015, 80).

Literature

Fröhlich, Werner D. (2010): Wörterbuch Psychologie. 27. Aufl. München: dtv.

Heckmann, Friedrich (2015): Integration von Migranten. Einwanderung und neue Nationenbildung. Wiesbaden: Springer.

Langenfeld, Christine (2001): Integration und kulturelle Identität zugewanderter Minderheiten. Eine Untersuchung am Beispiel des allgemeinbildenden Schulwesens in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.

Piaget, Jean (1983): Piaget’s Theory. In: Mussen, Paul H. (Hrsg.): History, theory and methods. Handbook of child psychology, v. 1. 4. Aufl. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Scholze-Stubenrecht, Werner (Hrsg.) (1997): Duden. Das Fremdwörterbuch. 6. Aufl. Mannheim u. a.: Dudenverlag.