What term refers to the act of outwardly conforming to the majority opinion while privately disagreeing?

The concept of outwardly conforming to the majority opinion while privately holding a different viewpoint is best described by the term "compliance." Compliance occurs when individuals go along with a group or societal standards, often to avoid conflict or to gain social acceptance, even if they do not personally agree with those views. This behavior can be driven by the desire to fit in or be accepted by peers, leading individuals to act in accordance with group norms publicly while maintaining their own beliefs privately.

In contrast, conformity generally refers to a broader spectrum of social influence where individuals adjust their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors to align with group norms, which may involve both public and private acceptance. Obedience signifies a direct response to an authority figure’s commands, focusing more on hierarchy than group norms. Social norming involves the process of establishing expected standards of behavior in a group, which may influence compliance but does not specifically highlight the private vs. public disagreement aspect.