Which of the following would constitute a safety behavior? a. encountering a phobic stimulus in the company of other people b. avoiding a field where snakes are likely to be present c. avoiding eye contact d. worrying as a distraction from painful memories

Safety behaviors are often seen in people dealing with anxiety disorders. These behaviors are any actions a person carries out to avoid anxiety or fear during certain situations. Safety behaviors can involve avoidance of certain situations, people, or places, performing some rituals or acts that a person believes reduce their fear or anxiety, or seeking assurance from others.

Analyze each of the given options (a, b, c, d) according to the understanding of safety behavior. a. Encountering a phobic stimulus in the company of other people could potentially reduce personal anxiety or fear. Therefore, it can be considered as a safety behavior. b. Avoiding a field where snakes are likely to be present is a clear example of avoidance, often a safety behavior to prevent imagined danger. c. Avoiding eye contact could represent a safety behavior for someone who perceives social interactions to be threatening. d. Worrying as a distraction from painful memories depends on context, but it could be a safety behavior to avoid confronting a painful past. Here, all options can be seen as safety behaviors, depending on the context and individual.

Every given option could be considered a safety behavior, based on the individual's perceptions and situations. However, without the specific context or additional information on the source of the person's fear or anxiety, we can't definitively declare that only one of the options is a safety behavior.