Final answer:
Randi's use of burn marks to alleviate stress and aid sleep is an example of negative reinforcement, as it involves removing the unwanted stimulus of stress, which increases the likelihood of the behavior occurring again.
Step-by-step explanation:
The behavior depicted in the scenario where Randi makes small burn marks on her inner arm with a cigarette after a stressful day is an example of negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior. In Randi's case, the act of creating burn marks likely serves to alleviate some feeling of stress or discomfort, thereby helping her sleep better. Because the uncomfortable stimulus (stress) is removed through this act, and assuming this increases the likelihood that Randi will engage in this behavior again to relieve stress, this classifies as negative reinforcement.Randi's behavior is not an example of punishment as punishment involves decreasing a behavior. Positive punishment would be if an undesirable stimulus (like a rebuke) was added to decrease a behavior, while negative punishment would involve removing a pleasant stimulus (like a favorite toy) to decrease a behavior.