συγκατάθεσις
Synkatathesis
Assent — the moment you say yes to the thought
Synkatathesis is the critical moment in the temptation sequence when you say "yes" to the thought — when you move from merely entertaining it to actively choosing to follow it. This is the point at which moral responsibility begins, according to the tradition. Everything before assent (provocation, coupling) involves varying degrees of involuntary engagement. At assent, you choose.
The tradition's practical counsel is focused on catching the thought BEFORE assent — at the provocation or coupling stage. Once assent has been given, the thought has much more momentum, and reversing course requires greater effort. This is why watchfulness (nepsis) targets the earliest stages of the sequence.