Which tort requires extreme and outrageous conduct causing severe emotional distress?

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Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress is tested here. This tort requires conduct that is extreme and outrageous—so beyond what is acceptable in a civilized society—that the defendant either intended to cause distress or acted with reckless disregard for the likelihood of causing it. The emotional distress must be severe, meaning more than mere upset or hurt feelings; it must be substantial and or long-lasting. Importantly, physical injury is not required for this claim, though distress may sometimes manifest physically.

Why the other options don’t fit: Battery involves harmful or offensive contact with the plaintiff, not the distress caused by outrageous conduct. Assault is about creating a reasonable fear of imminent harmful contact, again focusing on apprehension of contact rather than extreme conduct causing distress. False imprisonment is unlawful restraint of movement within a bounded area, which centers on confinement, not the outrageous conduct that causes severe emotional distress.