The present experiment was undertaken to test the generality of Tannenbaum and Zillmann's arousal-excitation transfer model. 83 female subjects were insulted, praised, or treated in a neutral manner by the experimenter and then watched a neutral, arousing, or aggressive film clip. After viewing the film the subjects were given the opportunity both to aggress against and later to help the experimenter. Insulted subjects were more aggressive but no less helpful. Subjects helped significantly more following the aggressive film than either the arousing or neutral film.
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