why do you think crooks teases lennie?

Crooks' teasing is actually quite malicious. He feels as if he's been looked down upon and mistreated by the other men he works with, so when Lennie comes along and is unable to defend himself against the same type of verbal abuse..... Crooks indulges himself. Fortunately, Crooks finally realizes that his taunts just might provoke a physical reaction if Lennie is angered.