A REVIEW OF EVIDENCE FROM THE U.S. SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT AND RELATED RESEARCH AND AN EXAMINATION OF THE EVIDENCE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF RELEVANT PSYCHOLOGICAL MODELS SUGGESTS THE FOLLOWING: (1) TELEVISION EXPOSURE TO VIOLENT INCIDENTS ON TELEVISION CAN PRODUCE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON SOCIAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR; (2) THE IMPACT VARIES WITH OTHER INFLUENCES IN THE ENVIRONMENT (PARENTS, PEERS, OCCUPATION, ETC.); AND (3) THE EFFECTS ARE FILTERED THROUGH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SET, OR MENTAL FRAMEWORK, OF THE INDIVIDUAL. TELEVISION IS BY NO MEANS A PRIME CAUSAL AGENT IN VIOLENCE. TELEVISION'S EFFECTS CAN BE MODERATED, MINIMIZED, NEGATED, OR OTHERWISE CHANGED BY OTHER INFLUENCES. IN LIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE, THE FOLLOWING POLICY ALTERNATIVES ARE APPARENT: (1) CONTINUE RESEARCH INTO NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TELEVISION, WITH A VIEW TO MONITORING TRENDS, ASSESSING SOCIAL VIOLENCE LEVELS, AND DIAGNOSING PREDISPOSITIONS THAT MAY BE CONDUCIVE TO VIOLENCE; (2) CONTINUE RESEARCH INTO THE ROLE OF TELEVISION IN SOCIALIZATION; (3) PROVIDE CONSUMER EDUCATION TO HELP PARENTS GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN'S TELEVISION-VIEWING HABITS; (4) DIRECT CONSUMER ACTIONS TOWARD NETWORKS, THEIR LOCAL AFFILIATES, AND SPONSORS (E.G., BOYCOTTING PRODUCTS OF SPONSORS OF VIOLENT PROGRAMS); AND (5) GIVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO COMMUNITY-CONTROLLED TELEVISION OR NATIONAL PURPOSIVE PROGRAMMING (DESIGNED TO FULFILL SPECIFIC SOCIAL GOALS). A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)