Which of the following describes Piaget’s concept of 'equilibration'?

Piaget’s concept of 'equilibration' is best described as the balance between assimilation and accommodation in cognitive development. This concept reflects the ongoing process by which children (and individuals in general) strive for cognitive stability. Equilibration occurs when there is a conflict between existing mental frameworks (schemas) and new information, leading individuals to either assimilate that information into their existing schemas or accommodate their schemas to better fit the new information.

When children encounter new experiences that do not fit into their current understanding, they can feel a sense of cognitive imbalance. Equilibration helps them restore balance by adjusting their thought processes. This dynamic interaction ensures that their cognitive development continues in a meaningful way, allowing them to both apply existing knowledge to new situations and modify their understanding to accommodate new experiences.

The other options describe related processes within cognitive development but do not capture the comprehensive nature of equilibration. Assimilation involves fitting new information into existing schemas, while accommodation refers to changing those schemas in response to new experiences, but neither alone constitutes the balancing act inherent in equilibration. Physical interaction with the environment may lead to discovery but does not directly relate to the concept of equilibration as defined by Piaget.