Summing up, the herd instinct that is an powerful inherited trait, requires a strong almighty leader, who requires utmost loyalty, and who’s decisions, even when not understood can not be questioned.
1-God, represented by their human avatars
2-Emperors, kings, who were considered God themselves
3- Dictators
The powerful herd instinct also makes people want to think and behave like the majority of the group. The enemy of this powerful inherited inclination are educators, free thinkers, skeptics and non-conformists and they are viewed as the enemy of the herd by the masses and have been ruthlessly eliminated in the past and still are by not only some religious leaders but by dictators as well.
Just an idea that I want to develop further, perhaps it’s way of base but I love your input on the matter since it could explain why religious leaders and Dictators seem to be more powerful than elected ones, who often are strongly influenced by religious or political ideologies.