With the rapid diffusion of the VCR into the home media environment, a central question is whether the special features of the VCR lead to transformations in the family, or whether preexisting family relationships and media orientations determine the uses of the VCR and its role in the family. This study, using cross-sectional and longitudinal data from adolescents, suggests that VCRs mainly augment and extend family television patterns and that VCR use may be both a cause and a symptom of family conflicts.
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