I’d argue it’s a reasonable learned response to fear from an authority figure. Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn. Fawn is the only one that helps when accosted by a parent, teacher, boss, or a cop.

Punch your dad? You get the belt worse. Run from school? Truancy and inschool suspension. Freeze in front of your boss? You’re ignoring him/being defiant, you get fired.

Maybe this is just psuedopsychological posturing but it’s what makes the most sense when examining my own and many other Amerikans’ behaviors when relating to authority