Many people are surprised to learn that damages for injury to feelings can be awarded in defamation cases. In addition to protecting one's reputation, the tort of defamation also recognizes the harm caused by hurt feelings.

Lord Diplock stated, "The harm caused to the plaintiff by the publication of a libel upon him often lies more in his own feelings, what he thinks other people are thinking of him, than in any actual change made manifest in their attitude towards him."

An award for injury to feelings is a standard part of compensatory damages. Additionally, if the defendant's conduct has exacerbated the plaintiff's injury, they may also be entitled to "aggravated damages." It's important to note that corporations cannot claim injury to feelings.

It's possible for a plaintiff to prove injury to reputation by showing they have been "shunned and avoided" by others as a result of the defamatory statement. BUT, such evidence can also demonstrate substantial hurt to the plaintiff's feelings.