Do people that have suffered a lot seek out situations that will cause them to suffer again or even attract them?

I have dug out a couple of studies, but they only seem marginally reliable for various reasons.

So, what are your thoughts? Do you think that enough suffering will cause a person to run from one pain to the next?

Abuse victims finding the next abuser. junkies switching from one drug of choice to the next, etc. etc. etc.

Can you “avert” happiness, or is it even karma? Examples?