The relationship between the amount of television watching and level of family tension was studied through interviews carried out in 64 Minneapolis households. Tension levels were found to be higher in families with high levels of television watching, particularly in households with a high population density. There appears to be a strong relationship between television watching and the number of conflicts, arguments, disagreements, or complaints over television in households with low population density. Television set operation may be used to prevent tense interactions, particularly in households that are so crowded that people cannot easily use spatial separation to control tense interaction. (SK)