Independent investigations have demonstrated consistent relationships among family communication, cognitive style, and media behavior when any two of these variables are associated in the same study. The evidence so far supports the hypotheses that family communication patterns are associated with different strategies for dealing with persons and information, thus influencing the role and effects of television and other media in the lives of young persons. However, a theoretical model is needed to clarify the process of this influence. Such a model would support the following hypotheses: (1) cognitive style will function significantly in explaining variance in media use and gratifications by family communication patterns; (2) "rule" gratifications in the media will be significantly associated with convergent thinking and socio-orientation in family communication patterns; (3) "idea" gratification in the media will be significantly associated with divergent thinking and concept-orientation in family communication patterns; and (4) general orientation to media will function significantly in explaining variance in media use and gratifications by family communication patterns. The testing of these hypotheses will require longitudinal research and should be associated with different leisure activity choices over time. (HOD)