What are the reasons people choose to malinger?

Is it to get drugs, attention, a disability check, or just to be manipulative? I've never understood it.

It could be related to any of these. It can also be other reasons such as self esteem / confidence issues, family influences, historical or current abuse, addiction, personality disorders etc.

As I see it. [Note, I'm not a professional or anything. Just my own opinion.] Malingering is often a symptom of another problem, rather than being the problem itself. And so I don't think it's entirely accurate to say people "choose" to malinger. Any more than I'd choose to have a headache. I might choose to do things that cause a headache. But I might also have that headache for many reasons which aren't any choice of mine.

As I understand it I believe malingering refers to faking illness for tangible gain such as money. The other FD stuff is for more nebulous secondary gain as far as I know

So the reason ppl malinger, if I am correct is likely to be for financial reasons.

Other reasons ppl may fake illness (eg Munchausen) are more to do with the rewards they get for being sick such as medical attention, family worry and attention and other similar things

Cracked