What is a common motivation behind malingering?

What is a common motivation behind malingering?

• A. Seeking genuine medical help
• B. Attracting attention from others
• C. Obtaining secondary gain motives
• D. Fulfilling legal obligations

Answer: (C)

Malingering typically involves the intentional faking or exaggerating of symptoms for the purpose of achieving a specific external benefit, often referred to as secondary gain. This might include financial compensation, avoiding responsibilities, or securing medications. Individuals who malinger are usually motivated by these advantages rather than a genuine need for medical assistance or attention. In contrast, seeking genuine medical help denotes a sincere request for treatment and care, which does not align with the motivations behind malingering. Attracting attention from others can sometimes be a part of the behavior associated with those who malinger, but it is not the primary motivation; those attempting to malinger are usually more focused on the tangible benefits than on the attention itself. Fulfilling legal obligations might be relevant in specific scenarios but is not a typical driving force behind malingering behaviors. Thus, the focus on secondary gain motives captures the essence of why someone might engage in malingering.

Malingering typically involves the intentional faking or exaggerating of symptoms for the purpose of achieving a specific external benefit, often referred to as secondary gain. This might include financial compensation, avoiding responsibilities, or securing medications. Individuals who malinger are usually motivated by these advantages rather than a genuine need for medical assistance or attention.

In contrast, seeking genuine medical help denotes a sincere request for treatment and care, which does not align with the motivations behind malingering. Attracting attention from others can sometimes be a part of the behavior associated with those who malinger, but it is not the primary motivation; those attempting to malinger are usually more focused on the tangible benefits than on the attention itself. Fulfilling legal obligations might be relevant in specific scenarios but is not a typical driving force behind malingering behaviors. Thus, the focus on secondary gain motives captures the essence of why someone might engage in malingering.