CorderaMitchell
Zitz! Rash! Pimple!
It takes over your mind and can autopilot you, but symbiotes on a new host are weaker, whileas symbiotes from their host are much stronger.
Spiderman<Venom<Carnage<Toxic, it goes like that, but as you see the intelligence of the human part is usually lower, which grants victories in some circumstances.
Brock was a sociopath, Cleutus was a psychopath. When Brock was removed from his symbiote too many times, he was to die. Finding out he had cancer, and had no desire to enter his symbiote again, he sold it for 10 million dollars.
With the new person, VENOM sent out to kill spiderman, while he was at his high school reunion. He found him (peter), and attacked. 1 person found out who spiderman was, and he took it to his grave. Venom killed him, and spiderman went beserk. He proceeded to fight the new venom, who was more powerful(ailen wise), but the new person wasn't as experienced. Spiderman was beating him hand to hand. His morale simply failed him, and that being so, the ailen dropped the host from high in the sky while webbslinging, and he died. Now there's a big IF on who the next venom is, Brock may enter it again to keep from dieing,or to save someone. Carnage was ripped apart by sentry, but there was no cleutus inside of him.
So I hope I answered your question, it messes with the person's mind, but enhances the host, which is why peter abandoned it.