Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following is not one of the five intentional torts?

1. Negligence

2. Assault

3. Battery

4. False imprisonment

The correct answer is: Negligence

The correct identification of negligence as not being one of the five intentional torts stems from a clear distinction between intentional torts and unintentional torts. Intentional torts involve actions taken with the intent to cause harm or injury to another person. The recognized intentional torts typically include assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and trespass to land or chattels. Negligence, on the other hand, is categorized as an unintentional tort. It arises when an individual fails to exercise a reasonable standard of care, leading to unintended harm or injury to another person. In negligence cases, the focus is on the breach of duty and whether the defendant acted in a way that a reasonably prudent person would not have, rather than a deliberate intention to cause harm. Understanding these definitions helps clarify why negligence does not belong in the category of intentional torts, as it is fundamentally based on a lack of intent rather than the presence of intent to cause injury.