Helping behavior as a function of pictorially induced moods

Two experiments investigated the effect of pictorially induced moods on helping behavior. After a mood-arousing experience (positive, negative, control), Ss were provided with an opportunity to help a graduate student by volunteering to participate in an experiment. Results indicated that while positive mood did not influence helping, negative mood tended to facilitate such behavior. On the basis of subjective report data, the latter increase was interpreted in terms of expiation of guilt.