Which intentional tort involves extreme or outrageous acts causing severe emotional distress?

Which intentional tort involves extreme or outrageous acts causing severe emotional distress?

• A. Assault
• B. Battery
• C. False Imprisonment
• D. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

Answer: (D)

This item tests understanding of intentional torts and what makes IIED unique. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress requires conduct that is extreme or outrageous—beyond what society would deem acceptable—and that the defendant intended to cause distress or acted with reckless disregard for the risk of causing it. The distress suffered must be severe, meaning genuine and significant emotional suffering, not just annoyance or petty hurt feelings. This combination—outrageous conduct plus severe emotional impact and causation—sets IIED apart from other intentional torts. For comparison, assault involves intentionally causing the apprehension of imminent harmful contact, and battery is the actual harmful or offensive contact itself. False imprisonment is the unlawful confinement of a person’s freedom of movement. None of these require the extreme, outrageous conduct and the resulting severe emotional distress that IIED does.

This item tests understanding of intentional torts and what makes IIED unique. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress requires conduct that is extreme or outrageous—beyond what society would deem acceptable—and that the defendant intended to cause distress or acted with reckless disregard for the risk of causing it. The distress suffered must be severe, meaning genuine and significant emotional suffering, not just annoyance or petty hurt feelings. This combination—outrageous conduct plus severe emotional impact and causation—sets IIED apart from other intentional torts.

For comparison, assault involves intentionally causing the apprehension of imminent harmful contact, and battery is the actual harmful or offensive contact itself. False imprisonment is the unlawful confinement of a person’s freedom of movement. None of these require the extreme, outrageous conduct and the resulting severe emotional distress that IIED does.