One other way of looking at it is more of what Cialdini describes in "the psychology of influence". Basically, the world around us is too complex for our biological brains to really grasp, so we look for short cuts to get us through the day. One of those shortcuts is deferring to apparent authority. Same results (looking to others for answers), but a little more based on evolutionary bio / psychology as opposed to a "people as sheep" POV.
Those who manipulate the unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. In almost every act of our lives whether in the sphere of politics or business in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires that control the public mind.