Point when each party has adopted what it regards as a "final" position and stated intention. This is the point when emotion is triggered, leading to rationalizations that may change parties' positions, stated intentions, preferences and beliefs. Thus, paradoxically, parties' positions and intentions become changeable only when regarded as "final". If they do not change, parties move on to a conflict decision. If they do change, they move back to the build-up phase or into the collaboration phase. Emotion, rationalization and change may also be triggered by apprehension of a moment of truth that is anticipated if positions and stated intentions are "finalized".