A
psychologist named
Kelman identified three types of
conformity, back in
1958:
compliance: conforming to other's
views,
beliefs or
behaviour in
public, but in private
maintaining your own.
Identification: actually
adopting the views, beliefs, or behaviour of a
group, but only when the group is
there, with you. The new attitude usually
dissolves when you leave the group.
Internalization: a true conversion to a
different set of beliefs, views, or behaviour. The new
attitude is
truly valued, even when the group is not present. The values stay
with you even when you leave the group.
Claiming to have certain views to avoid an arguement does not really apply to conformity, as long as it is personally acknowledged.