Wikipedia defines sycophancy as" flattery that is very obedient" The act is insincere. (https:Wikipedia.org/wiki/SYCOPHANCY) This source lists 15 other words that are alternative phrases such as "yes-man" and "sucking up." Further, there are 10 other related words. It appears to be part of the human condition. Other sources indicate that there are three main components in an educational system and other formal associations. The target is a person who hears the insincere compliment. The second is the perpetrator who speaks the insincere compliment and the third is another person who witnesses the social interaction. (Parker, D. & M. Parker, 2017)