Joyce Smithers, who pretended to be unable to work due to severe back pain, is classified as a?

The classification of Joyce Smithers as a malingerer is accurate due to the nature of her actions. Malingering specifically refers to the intentional fabrication or exaggeration of physical or psychological symptoms, typically for the purpose of avoiding work, obtaining financial compensation, or gaining some kind of benefit or advantage. In this case, Joyce pretended to be unable to work due to severe back pain, which indicates that she was consciously misleading others about her health status to gain an undeserved advantage.

This term is distinct from others; while terms like "defrauder," "con artist," and "fraudster" can apply broadly to fraudulent behavior, "malingerer" is more focused on the act of faking illness or disability. Therefore, in the context of personality diagnosis related to her specific behavior of pretending to suffer for personal gain, "malingerer" is the most precise classification.