48 male and 48 female undergraduates were given an opportunity to aid a confederate both before and after exposure to ambient temperatures of either 73°F (23°C) or 95°F (35°C), and noise levels of 55 dB(A), 95 dB(A) without perceived control, or 95 dB(A) with perceived control. Although heat produced discomfort and led to negative evaluations of the environment and although noise generally increased arousal, neither heat nor noise influenced any measures of helping behavior. Results are discussed in terms of feelings of perceived control imparted by the informed consent procedures and in terms of internal versus external attributions of responsibility for negative feelings.
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