What is considered self-defense in legal terms?

Self-defense in legal terms refers to the right to protect oneself from imminent harm, but it must be legally justified and involve a proportional response to the threat faced. This means that an individual can use reasonable force in response to a direct threat against them, ensuring that the force used does not exceed what is necessary to avert the danger. The concept of "imminent threat" implies that there must be an immediate risk of harm, and "proportional response" indicates that any defensive action taken should correspond in scale and intensity to the threat presented.

In contrast to the correct answer, the idea of retaliation against an attacker doesn't encompass the legal nuances of immediacy and proportionality essential to self-defense claims. Excessive force also falls outside the bounds of legitimate self-defense, as the law recognizes only reasonable responses to threats. Pursuing an attacker after they have fled disqualifies the action from being considered self-defense, as the immediate threat has ended and thus the justification for defensive action is lost. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in applying self-defense appropriately within the legal framework.