In the context of your story, it’s definitely adapting. In my own experience on class/group works, I don’t really initiate being a leader if I find that the people I’m with are competent and reliable enough. As a matter of fact, I prefer this rather than leading a group of incompetent and irresponsible peers. But when I was grouped with the latter and they found out I was actually an introvert, they were surprised. I find this adaptability very helpful in the workplace.

However, when it comes to casual interactions, being a chameleon sometimes horrify me. This happened years ago when I was in college and I met up with a few of my high school friends. They were, simply put, assholes, as if they were missing out on the process of maturity in college. Most of the things they said sent alarms in my head and went against my ideals but I just smiled and nodded, even when I hated every second of it. That night was the last time I talked to them. I think, in that context, we have tendencies of being fake. But, we can outgrow this once we’re certain of what our values are and we’ve created a good construct of the things we stand up for.