Biology Quote by Robert Kegan
““Central to Piaget's framework - and often ignored even by those who count themselves as Piagetian - is this activity, equilibration. Whether in the study of the mollusk or the human child, Piaget's principal loyalty was to the ongoing conversation between the individuating organism and the world, a process of adaptation shaped by the tension between the assimilation of new experience to the old 'grammar' and the accommodation of the old grammar to new experience. This eternal conversation is panorganic; it is central to the nature of all living things.””
About This Quote
Source Book: In Over Our Heads: The Work of Adult Development and the Path to Genius by Robert Kegan, 1994
Equilibration is the ongoing balance between fitting new experiences into existing mental structures and reshaping those structures to accommodate new data, driving development in all organisms.
In simple terms: Balancing old ideas with new experiences fuels growth.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change, adjust your mental models.
Themes
development
learning
adaptation
psychology
biology
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
theoretical
educational
When to use this quote
- education reform
- parenting
- organizational change
- personal growth
- scientific research
Key Concepts
equilibration
assimilation
accommodation
constructivism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you respond when new information contradicts your assumptions?
- What strategies help you integrate new experiences smoothly?
A Different Perspective
Equilibration can be slow and may cause discomfort when existing beliefs are challenged.
