What is the term for feigning illness to avoid responsibilities?

The term for feigning illness to avoid responsibilities is malingering. This behavior involves the intentional production or exaggeration of symptoms for the primary purpose of obtaining a benefit, such as avoiding work, evading legal responsibilities, or gaining financial compensation. Malingering is characterized by a conscious decision to be deceptive, differentiating it from other psychological conditions where the individual may not be aware of their symptoms' exaggeration or fabrication.

Pseudopregnancy refers to a condition where an individual exhibits signs of pregnancy without actually being pregnant, which does not involve avoiding responsibilities. Hypochondria, or health anxiety, is characterized by an excessive worry about having a serious illness despite minimal or no symptoms, leading to significant distress but not intentional deception for personal gain. Conversion disorder involves neurological symptoms that cannot be traced back to a neurological or medical condition, often linked to psychological factors, rather than a deliberate attempt to evade responsibilities.