Media is becoming even more popular and readily available every day. Not only is it a source of entertainment and information, but it is also a way to learn social norms, such as how to act in situations, whether legal or illegal. Media can be divided into different subgroups, including movies, television, books, music, and newspapers, for example. All of these outlets can make an impression on individuals who are participating. Media can be problematic if it is creating panic in the audience, teaching the audience various forms of violence, or glorifying drug use. All of these examples can be seen within the media subgroups, and individuals should be aware of what they may be learning from various forms of entertainment or news sources.

Age has a curvilinear relationship with crime and is the strongest predictor of criminal behavior. The likelihood of a person partaking in crime starts low, peaks from ages 16 to 24 years, and then declines. A number of theories are aimed towards explaining why criminal activity peaks during those ages. There are also numerous explanations as to the age of onset, when one starts acting criminal, and the age of offset, or the age that one stops partaking in crime.