Duration of the Effect of Good Mood on Helping: "Footprints on the Sands of Time"

Two field studies investigated the time course of the effect of feeling good on helping. Subjects were given small packets of stationery by a confederate who went from door to door. Then, at different intervals, each subject received a "wrong number" telephone call during which he or she had the opportunity to help. Results showed that subjects who had received stationery helped more than did those in either of two control groups. The effect declined gradually over time, and by 20 minutes after receipt of the stationery, the experimental group did not differ from the control groups. The time course of the decline in helpfulness and the basic relationship between good mood and helping were discussed in terms of cognitive processes.