What must a defendant demonstrate to be liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED)?

To establish liability for intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED), the defendant must show that their conduct was extreme and outrageous. This standard is crucial because IIED is rooted in the idea that a person's behavior can cause severe emotional trauma beyond what is acceptable in a civilized society. The actions must go beyond mere rudeness or trivial annoyances to such a degree that they shock the conscience.

In practice, this means that isolated, insignificant, or standard interpersonal conflicts would not meet the threshold necessary for IIED. Instead, cases often involve repeated or prolonged conduct that a reasonable person would find intolerable. For instance, abusive language, persistent harassment, or actions that deliberately seek to provoke emotional distress can meet this criterion.

The other options, while related to the topic of emotional distress claims in different contexts, do not accurately reflect the requirements for IIED. Negligent behavior does not suffice for IIED; it requires an intention to inflict emotional distress or reckless disregard for the likelihood of causing such distress. Intent is fundamental to the claim, which eliminates any consideration of a lack of intent or the plaintiff's prior approval of the conduct as valid factors in establishing liability. Thus, demonstrating extreme and outrageous conduct is the key element in ascertaining