This inquiry explores the role of negative emotions in the framework of the situational theory of problem solving (STOPS). It essays the reliability of the initial STOPS model with a sex crime matter in the Korean context and negative emotions' mediating role in the relationship between situational recognition and communicative action. STOPS appears a helpful model with a crime problem in the Korean context. The model also demonstrates that negative emotions minister as another motivation aspect, and emotional experiences might forego ensuing cognitive activities. Particularly, negative emotions have a bigger impact on situational motivation than communicative action. People's negative emotions about sex crimes also directly affect their communicative action. Amid diverse types of publics, the active and aware publics display greater emotional replies than the latent publics and nonpublics.