Why are some people susceptible to a?

Question

certain dangerous personality type?.... some people seem to feed off this type of person, why is that?

Answer 1

I believe this might be called "codependency". This is basically a psychological addiction to the affect, needs and emotions of (some) other people. Usually a codependent is some partner to an addict or alcoholic, and who thrives on the other's relative helplessness. But in the case of "sucking up" to toxic people, it might have an element of risk- taking, a compulsive need for the thrill of being around danger. This happens because danger stimulates adrenaline production, which can become addictive. It basically is the alternative to life being stable, normal, and (to such a person) boring.