The negotiated end result will be the final purchase price of the property. What the seller may have paid for the house originally, and how much they would like to get doesn't matter. If the seller is sticking to some unrealistic image of the value of his property, you should just move on. Duress can come from different sources. If the seller's are going through a divorce and are selling because they are required to by divorce decree, they may be under duress.
Many people are uncomfortable with negotiation.
In this country we will readily pay the market price for an item even if it means paying too much. Because no one just pays the sticker price for a home, buyers need to become a little more knowledgeable about the negotiation process. Buying and selling a home can be an emotional experience. Sellers often have emotional ties to a home. Add to that the necessity of negotiating a price for something that holds so many memories and it can put you on an emotional roller coaster.