People like rules that are clearly defined.

They don't like gray areas.

Because of the cognitive work involved. People do not want to think about things. They want to know them.

It's not about authoritarianism, it's about the features of our brains and biology. Learning is literally a painful process for the brain and people avoid it. Not any different than how physical exercise is painful and people avoid it.

People who seek to learn, just like people who seek physical exercise, have re-wired their brain to enjoy those things than by default, they would not.