The mass media are considered to be television, radio, movies, and newspapers. They may generate changes in cognition and comprehension. They do effect emotional arousal, sex and behavior identification, and changes in allocation of time, consumer purchase, and voting behavior. The only data which show a clear relationship between the mass media and aggressive behavior occur when the testing situation is designed to give the impression that aggression is permissible; research suggests that filmed violence must be accompanied by a complex set of personal and social circumstances in order to produce aggression. There is some evidence that mass media influence interests and interest-related behavior, public taste, outlook and values, and passivity; but more research is needed. Television seems to intensify pre-existing family relationships rather than change them. The opinions of the mass audience do not seem to be formed by the media. Rather, the interested segment of the audience receives information from the media and then serves in the role of interpersonal communicator, so influencing the remainder of the community. The document is a survey of literature on the effects of the mass media on communications. (MM)