Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of intentional torts?

Intentional torts are defined by the deliberate actions of an individual intending to cause harm to another. The embodiment of intent is a critical characteristic of intentional torts, distinguishing them from other legal categories such as negligent behavior.

Choosing negligent behavior as the option that is NOT a characteristic of intentional torts is accurate because intentional torts require a clear intent to harm, whereas negligence involves a failure to act with reasonable care, leading to unintentional harm. In intentional torts, actions are taken deliberately, and this purposeful aspect is what sets them apart.

The other characteristics include intent to cause harm, which establishes the motive behind the tort, direct action towards the plaintiff, showing that the harm is specifically targeted, and willful misconduct, which emphasizes the conscious choice to engage in actions that result in damage or injury to another person. They all reinforce the notion that the actions taken are not only intentional but also directly aimed at causing the harm in question.