I was pondering this recently and I wondered if ones relationship with their father as a small child impacts this effect as well. If as a kid one looked up to their father, literally, and had positive interactions, well that's some pretty deeply ingrained feedback loops there. Yes this is pop psych nonsense, but one does wonder.
The cynical side of me says it's one's hindbrain may be subconsciously whispering "This person is bigger than I am and could beat me to death, it's better not to antagonize them, or 'compete' with them in any way. They look like they'll always be on the winning side, so that's where I'll be".
