Favoritism
Favoritism or "playing favorites" was preferential treatment given to a certain individual based on one's admiration of another, rather than individual merit. To "curry favor" was to seek favoritism through flattery.

In 2258 of the alternate reality,  told  that he assigned her to the  instead of the  to avoid the appearance of favoritism. ()

According to Spock, Starbase Yorktown was built in open space to avoid the appearance of geographical favoritism for any Federation member worlds. ()

Tom Paris received a B minus in his Survival Strategies course at Starfleet Academy. When he related this to Neelix in 2372, adding that his father was teaching the course at the time, the Talaxian was surprised, commenting that the elder Paris didn't play favorites. ()

See also
 Nepotism

External link 
 
Philosophy