Human beings are frightened animals, and we come by it naturally. We lack fangs, claws, fur, venom....anything other than the intelligence that keeps us alive. We walk upright with heart and genitals exposed. There's a million years of it encoded it our DNA.
Human beings are herd animals. We survive only in highly coordinated groups. This means individually, we're designed to pick up social cues and coordinate and align our behavior with those around us. Research has shown that social disapproval provokes the brain's danger circuits. Followers live; rebels are left to their own survival.
And comes along the next leader. What makes him a leader to the fearful and following? First, he reiterates how grave the danger is, really gets their attention. Then he assigns blame and creates a tangible adversary. Then he tells his followers they're better than "them" but always under constant threat.
Then a good leader provides small luxuries for his followers. Words of praise, special badges or markers. He then tells him they can be safe and exalted but they'll have to listen carefully to him. And by the time he's bleeding them, it feels just like special attention.
How does it all translate? Little high-school "clubs." Stupid catchphrases, moronic merchandise, inside jokes - anything to help them continue the charade. Because if the music at the party falls below a certain sane level, they're liable to sense the real world outside and that has become unacceptable to them because out there people live by their wits and they surrendered their critical thinking at the door.
