What characterizes conduct as extreme and outrageous in an IIED case?

In an Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED) case, conduct is characterized as extreme and outrageous when it exceeds the limits of human decency. This standard requires the conduct to be so outrageous or extreme that it goes beyond what is considered acceptable in a civilized society.

Courts typically look for behavior that is not just offensive, but exceptionally intolerable, with a focus on the impact it has on the emotional well-being of the victim. For example, actions that involve severe psychological abuse, public humiliation, or threats of violence could be considered extreme and outrageous.

The other options do not meet the legal threshold for IIED. Conduct that is merely rude or insulting, socially acceptable, or that results only in slight emotional discomfort does not rise to the level of extreme and outrageous. Therefore, the correct answer accurately encapsulates the necessary characteristics of conduct that would support a claim for IIED, which requires a substantial degree of severity in the behavior exhibited.