Cognitive effects in children's learning of altruistic behavior were tested with an adaptation of Aronfreed's test design and machine. Children in grades 1-4 were presented with a machine with 2 levers. One lever, when pressed, released bubble gum, and the other turned on a light. For two of the three groups the experimenter exclaimed delightedly when the light came on. A story (unrelated to the test experience but involving a similar idea of self-sacrifice) was read to one of the two groups before the test. Following the test, all groups were given an opportunity to give any amount of their bubble gum to a charity box for needy children. For the test experience in grades 2-4, the results in the story group were significantly different from the other groups, but results in the second (non-story) group were not significantly different from the control group. The results for the charity box experience were the same, except that the differences involved grade 1 also. An experiment was conducted to test whether the cognitive treatment would continue to be effective over a five-day period. No significant loss of effectiveness was found. It was concluded that cognitive factors can influence children's altruistic behavior, but in grade 1 only in a familiar situation (the charity box). (A number of pages of the document may reproduce poorly due to marginal legibility.) (KM)