Which best defines "emotional distress" in tort law?

Emotional distress in tort law is best defined as the severe emotional suffering that results from the actions of another. This definition highlights the intensity and impact of the emotional pain experienced, which can be significant enough to affect a person's daily life and mental well-being. It encompasses responses such as anxiety, depression, and severe distress that arise from the wrongful conduct of another party.

In tort law, claims for emotional distress often arise in situations involving negligence or intentional infliction of emotional distress, where the actions of the defendant are particularly egregious or harmful. The severity of the emotional suffering must typically be well-documented and proven in court, which is why distinguishing it from milder forms of emotional response, such as temporary sadness or diagnosed mental illnesses, is critical.

While long-lasting pain and suffering from an injury could relate to emotional distress, as indicated in the second choice, it is too broad and does not specifically address the emotional aspect nor the causation through another's actions. Additionally, a type of mental illness diagnosed by a psychologist does not encapsulate the broader concept of emotional distress as understood in tort claims, focusing instead on clinical diagnosis rather than the legal implications of emotional suffering stemming from wrongful conduct.