This type of theorist proposes that conversion and somatic symptom disorders are forms of communication, providing a means for people to express emotions that would otherwise be difficult to convey.

Mike and his wife, amanda, are arguing about his in-laws. mike doesn’t want them to visit because they fight all the time when they come to the house and he is worried about the effect that their fighting is having on mike and amanda’s children. amanda finally yells out: “what about our fighting? ” mike replies, “well, that’s different. we fight because we’re having a disagreement, they fight because they hate each other! ” this is an example of