Assimilation

New facts and ideas presented to an individual are modified or distorted depending on that person's expectations based on previous experience. Such previous experience has been [assimilated]

into the self due to prolonged contact with a particular environment. [Cultural assimilation]

or [acculturation]

describes the process of absorbing/becoming like the [social]

environment and adopting the attitudes of that society. Data subjected to "assimilation" will be then passed on to others in its modified/distorted form. According to [assimilation-contrast theory]

, information received by an individual is accepted and assimilated, or rejected, depending on whether it falls within the tolerance of his or her opinion. When rejected it may have the affect of producing more extreme views to counter such information.