本研究主要目的在探討利他意願對情緒的影響。實驗一呈現兩篇不同內容的文章以探討閱讀對情緒的影響。研究結果顯示溫馨內容之文章可使閱讀者產生正向的情緒，災難內容之文章則使閱讀者產生負向的情緒。實驗二採用實驗一中所使用之災難內容的文章以使閱讀者產生負向情緒，然後請其表達是否願意以捐款或擔任志工的方式幫助災民。結果發現幾乎所有的參與者均願意伸出援手，而和未被詢及助人意願之控制組相較之下，實驗組的負向情緒很明顯的比控制組的負向情緒低，此結果顯示利他意願可以降低負向情緒。本研究在教育上之應用於文中亦有所討論。

The effect of altruism on affect was examined in this study. In Experiment 1, two articles with different content were presented to participants. Results indicated that the article with kind and pleasant content produced positive affect while the one describing an earthquake disaster produced negative affect for the participants. In Experiment 2, the participants were first asked to read the same article about earthquake disaster in Experiment 1. Then they were asked if they would like to donate some money or to work as a volunteer to help the earthquake survivors. Participants who wished to help the survivors in Experiment 2 reported less negative affect than participants in Experiment 1 who read the same article. The hypothesis that willingness to help others produced a decrease in negative affect is confirmed. Implications for education are discussed.