What do you think about mannerisms when interacting within a hierarchy?

Specifically in and out of the workplace. I understand respecting bosses, or people in very high positions. I understand the Sirs and Ma’ams and referring to people by their titles etc. Although at the same time, I feel conflicted about the whole thing, because I’m sure we all know everyone is the same (human) so most of this stuff is artificial. I could understand this system when referring to a parent-child relationship, but it seems more complicated when dealing with adults.

I understand there is a status system, and I understand you have to play by the rules of the system to live life sometimes.

I’m having a hard time trying to formulate my question. An example is the way some superiors want their subordinates to treat them. Some are very rigid and want a solid hierarchy where showing any ‘buddy buddy’ feelings is unacceptable, while others do not like a rigid system and go for the increased morale, making everyone feel like a family.

I know this depends on a variety of factors like size of the workplace, type of work etc., but does one way work better than the other? Is it completely dependent upon the workplace? If so, what makes one group of people act like highschool buddies, and another group act like an ant farm?