This paper contains partial data from an investigation of adults and television conducted for the Canadian Royal Commission on Violence in the Communications Industry. The first section of the paper offers a discussion of the viewing behaviors of adult Canadians derived from interview data, while the second section examines the "mean world syndrome" or "fortress mentality" in light of the responses given by those viewers. The third section details the uses and gratifications those adults reported receiving from television viewing. The fourth section contains comparison data between the content analysis and adult viewers, and the final section offers comments about the reception of this research by the Royal Commission. Extensive tables of data are included. (FL)