What phenomenon describes being more likely to help others when in a good mood?

• A. Feel-good, do-good phenomenon
• B. Catharsis hypothesis
• C. Adaptation-level phenomenon
• D. Stress

Answer: (A)

Mood affects helping behavior: a positive mood makes you more likely to help others. This pattern, often named the feel-good, do-good phenomenon, happens because being happy encourages actions that maintain or spread that good feeling. When you're in a good mood, you’re more inclined to interpret situations benevolently, have greater cognitive flexibility to notice others’ needs, and feel motivated to keep the pleasant state going by engaging in prosocial acts. Research shows people in upbeat moods volunteer or help more readily, even when helping is costly, suggesting a causal link between mood and helping. This isn’t about venting (catharsis), nor about adapting to a baseline happiness level (adaptation-level), and it’s not primarily about stress, which tends to dampen helping.