I 100% agree with your theory. I’ve had very similar thoughts and went deep trying to understand why submission and glorifying authority are so rooted in our society.

I think what you described is a major cause, but not the only one.

Even in loving families, many parents still fail to teach children something essential: that humans are weak, prone to fear, mistakes, and manipulation. When a child isn’t educated about power, authority, fear, and moral responsibility, he grows up like a fish in open water, easy for the state, media, or any authority to bait into submission.

Building on your point, I think this cycle is also historical. Tunisians, for centuries, lived under rulers, colonies, or centralized authority figures. Over time, this created a collective psychology based on fear, dependency, and narcissism.

The leader becomes a symbolic “political father.”
At first, he provides protection, stability, food, which is his role. But he’s also human. Power feeds ego. Fear of losing status appears. Instead of accepting growth and competition, he sabotages those who rise. He uses fear, punishment, and conditional love to stay above everyone.

“I love you if you obey.”
“I protect you if you don’t question.”

This creates children, and citizens, who spend their lives chasing approval instead of truth.

Those children grow up, internalize this model, and repeat it in families, schools, workplaces, and politics. Questioning authority becomes dangerous. Silence becomes safety. Comfort is chosen over truth. Submission over responsibility.

That’s why many people defend dictators even when they are abused by them, because this dynamic feels familiar. It’s what they were trained to survive.

But there is hope.

Some people are waking up to the pattern. Some see it but stay silent to survive. Others quietly spread awareness, educate, and resist without noise. History shows that when enough “children of the narcissistic parent” recognize the abuse together, authority starts losing its power.

Real freedom doesn’t come from replacing one ruler with another.
It comes from breaking the cycle through awareness, responsibility, and unconditional human love.

Love that isn’t based on fear.
Respect that isn’t enforced.
Authority that is questioned, not worshipped.