I'll get to this with the question which begins: 'Is there something about human psychology...?', remaining as simple and/or elegant as the topic permits. The answer is: yes. there are several 'somethings' about human psychology. Authoritarian leaders (and those who would be such), play on such human frailties as: fear; uncertainty; intolerance; and inability to think for one's self---recall that bicameral mind, of which Julian Jaynes wrote, last century. Many of us never heard of Jaynes, but those who have still entertain the notion that he was on to something. Weakness of mind, in all of its forms, causes people to be susceptible to authoritarians and their ilk. Envy is also culpable when the have-nots see others who appear to have more, on one or more levels. We all want our societies to excel, and authoritarians are good at selling snake oil and short-cuts. People are, in the last analysis, gullible---not all, mind you, but at least a charming plurality. There would likely be some mathematical formula for this, if anyone cared to explore it---maybe someone has, I do not know. Finally, people are predictable when it comes to leaders and leadership: that which is too good to be true achieves approval, in spite of itself. You don't have to take my word for this: examine the evidence and think for yourself.