INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS Meaning and
Definition
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Intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) is a legal concept used to describe the intentional or reckless act of causing severe emotional distress to another person. It involves the deliberate and wrongful behavior that goes beyond what is considered socially acceptable, resulting in severe emotional suffering for the victim.
To prove a claim of IIED, certain elements must be established. Firstly, the defendant's conduct must be intentional or done with reckless disregard for the emotional well-being of another person. This means that the defendant must have known or should have known that their actions would likely lead to emotional distress.
Secondly, the defendant's behavior must be extreme or outrageous. The conduct must surpass the bounds of decency and be considered beyond what is usually found in daily life. It should be something that would provoke a strong emotional response in a reasonable person.
Thirdly, the plaintiff must demonstrate that they suffered severe emotional distress as a direct result of the defendant's action. This distress must go beyond common annoyances or hurt feelings, and instead, it must be a response that is of a magnitude that no reasonable person should be expected to endure.
If a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress is successful, the victim may be entitled to seek compensation for the emotional harm caused.
