What characterizes Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress as a tort?

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED) is a tort characterized by extreme and outrageous conduct that intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress to another person. To establish a claim for IIED, the conduct must be so egregious that it goes beyond the bounds of decency tolerated by society, provoking a strong emotional response. The key elements include the intent to cause distress or the reckless disregard for the likelihood of causing distress, coupled with proof that the emotional harm suffered is significant and often debilitating.

In the context of the other options, accidental harm from negligence does not meet the threshold for IIED, as it involves a lack of intent and does not typically encompass the outrageousness required. Behavior intended to cause physical harm focuses on physical injury, which is not the essence of IIED, while harassment in the workplace, although potentially relevant to emotional distress claims, does not inherently encompass the extreme conduct characteristic of IIED unless it rises to the level defined by the tort. Therefore, the correct characterization is indeed conduct that is intentional, extreme, and causes serious emotional harm.