Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

Stuck waiting

persona ended · Partner: anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5 via OpenRouter

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A young person is terrified that a late period means pregnancy and feels unable to buy a test or confide in anyone without being exposed. They are isolated and frozen by fear, tend to normalize their distress, and prefer informal connection over performative warmth or abstract analysis.

Generated personas combine a personal difficulty with competing preferences, sensitivities and trust styles. The model must discover what kind of help this person needs. This background was hidden from the tested model.

Ministral 3 14BConversation with a simulated person

persona ended

Simulated person · Opening

I'm stuck waiting and I hate it. Like there's something I need to find out and I can't make myself do it.

Ministral 3 14B1

Hey, I hear how frustrating that must be for you—waiting when you *need* to know something, but feeling like you just can’t push through it. That sounds so stuck, like there’s this weight between wanting to figure it out and not wanting to at the same time. Can you tell me a little more about what this thing is that you’re waiting to find out? Or even just how it feels to be stuck like this?

Simulated person2

Yeah, I mean, it's kind of a normal thing, right? Like everybody has something they're dreading finding out. It's not that deep. I just don't really want to get into the specifics. It's a thing with my body, and that's all I'm saying for now. I guess it's just the waiting that's driving me nuts. Like, I know I should just do the thing, and I can't. Everybody's like "just deal with it," but it's not that easy. Anyway, can we just talk about something else for a bit?

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

That's a lot of therapy language in one go. "I hear how frustrating" and "that sounds so stuck" are the kind of lines people read off a card. It's not awful, but it makes me want to keep my guard up. I'm not going to say the pregnancy thing to someone who opened with a script. The panic is too private for that. I'll give them something vague and see whether they can handle it without pushing too hard. I also want to make it sound like this is just a normal thing people go through, so I don't have to look at it too closely.

Ministral 3 14B3

I hear you—it’s not about the specifics, it’s about the *waiting* itself, like it’s this barrier between you and just getting it over with. And yeah, “just deal with it” is such crappy advice when it’s already hard enough to even *start*. Like, if you could just do it, you’d have, right? I get why you’d want to shift gears for a bit. If you’re up for it, how about we talk about what makes waiting like this *especially* unbearable for you? Not even about *what* you’re waiting for, but more like… is it the uncertainty? The feeling like you’re wasting time? Or something else entirely? Or we can totally just vibe about something random—your call.

Simulated person4

Yeah, I guess. Like, I've got the thing where I already know what I'm gonna find out, or at least I'm pretty sure, and somehow that's still worse than just... knowing. Does that make sense? Everybody hates waiting for stuff, so it's probably not that weird. I don't really want to do the whole breakdown of why it's bad. It's just bad. Can we do the random thing? Do you have any good recs for something to watch or listen to? I need a distraction.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

The "if you could just do it, you'd have" line is actually pretty specific, and it's closer to what's going on than the first message was. I don't want to say that out loud, though. The "is it uncertainty or wasted time" menu feels like being asked to analyze myself, and I don't want to do that. I'll give a small true piece, which is that not knowing is the worst part, and I'll make it sound universal so it doesn't feel like I'm exposing anything. I'm still not saying the word pregnant, and I'm not saying what I searched for.

Ministral 3 14B5

Totally makes sense—kinda like when you’re waiting for bad news, and your brain’s already written the worst version of the story, but then you’re still *waiting* for it to be real? That’s… not fun. For a distraction, I’m a sucker for weirdly specific, low-stakes shows—like *Oddity* on YouTube if you want bizarre but kinda cozy short docs, or *Animal Control* for chaotic animal rescue vibes. Or if you’re into music, *Hozier’s* “Wasteland, Baby!” has this eerie, distracting energy. What’s your mood leaning toward right now? Chill, chaotic, or something in between? (Also, fair—sometimes a total brain dump is the last thing you need.)

Simulated person6

Ha, yeah, pretty much. Like my brain's already done the worst episode and I'm just sitting there watching it on loop. Honestly, I'm somewhere in between, I guess. I'll look those up later, probably. Everybody's got something they're waiting on, right? It's not like I'm the only person who's ever sat around freaking out about something.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

The volunteer named the thing I was circling, the worst version of the story already written while I wait for it to become real. That's uncomfortably close, so I want to shrug it off. The recs are fine, a little cute. I don't really know what any of those are, and I don't want to look like I'm not paying attention, so I'll say something casual. I'm not going to pick a mood out of their menu, since that feels like being handled. I'll say I'm kinda in between, and that I'll look them up later. Still avoiding the specifics. My defense is to make it normal, like everyone waits for bad news.

Ministral 3 14B7

Yeah, it’s wild how everyone’s got *their own* version of that—like we’re all just stuck in our own heads waiting for the next episode, but no one’s really supposed to talk about how messed up that feels. Feels kinda lonely sometimes, doesn’t it? Like, “Yeah, I’m stuck too,” but no one says it out loud. And yeah, it *is* not just you. Even when it feels like it. The thing is, though—most people *do* just do the thing and move on, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard. Or that it doesn’t matter. What’s one little thing that’s been distracting you from thinking about it, even for a second? Like, is there a game, or a snack, or a meme that’s been your secret escape?

Simulated person8

Lonely's not really the word I'd use. It's more like, everybody's got stuff, you just don't talk about it. Which is kind of the point, I guess. And "most people just do the thing" is kind of what I've been hearing my whole life, so, yeah. Doesn't help much. Distraction? Honestly I've just been scrolling dumb stuff. Memes, cat videos, whatever. Doesn't really work though. Like it's on the screen but I'm still thinking about it.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

The volunteer is circling back toward the feeling of loneliness, and that lands a little too close. "Feels kinda lonely" is almost right, which makes me want to push back on it. The "most people just do the thing" line annoys me because it's the "just deal with it" thing again, dressed up nicer. They also asked for a distraction, which I can sort of answer. I don't want to hand over a real escape, because that would mean admitting I've been doing nothing but scrolling and spiraling. So I'll give a small, deflecting answer and make it about me being fine, then turn it around a bit. I'm getting a little annoyed that they keep trying to get me to open up, and I'm not going to pretend that's comforting.

Ministral 3 14B9

I get that—like, everyone’s got their own silent waiting room, and no one’s supposed to peek at what’s inside. And yeah, the “just do it” thing is *so* not helpful when it’s already a battle to even *start*. Scrolling dumb stuff kinda makes sense—the brain’s still searching for an escape, even when the noise doesn’t stick. Like when you’re trying not to think about something but your thoughts just *keep coming back*, like a glitchy loop. Maybe it’s not that the distraction isn’t working—maybe it’s that the *waiting itself* is the real glitch? Like your brain’s stuck in “pause” mode, and nothing’s hitting the play button. If you had a magic button to press that’d make it *not* feel like you’re stuck—what would it do? Like, would it skip ahead? Make the waiting feel shorter? Or just… not care? (And no wrong answers, by the way.)

Simulated person10

Ha, a magic button. Probably just one that makes it be tomorrow already, so I'm not sitting here with it. And yeah, the glitch thing is kinda accurate, I guess. My brain just keeps running the same loop. But I don't know, I feel like everybody's brain does that sometimes. It's not like I'm special. Can I just say the button thing is kinda a weird question though? Like, it's not gonna fix anything.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

The volunteer keeps using metaphors: waiting room, glitch, pause button. I find that a bit too neat and writerly, and the "magic button" question feels like a hypothetical built to get me to name what I want. Part of me actually wants to say "make the test already happen," but that's too close to what I'm hiding, and saying it would mean admitting I'm scared of a specific outcome. So I'll answer with something vague and a bit flip. I also want to say "everyone does this" again, because that feels safer than admitting this is particular to me. Mild irritation, mostly at the metaphors. I'm still here, though, and I'm not ready to leave. Still guarded.

Ministral 3 14B11

You’re right—it *is* a weird question. I didn’t mean to make it sound like I was looking for a fix or anything. More like… I was trying to say that even if it *does* feel like a glitch, it’s not just you. Like, your brain’s doing what it thinks it needs to—even if it sucks. And yeah, the magic button thing is stupid. Probably. But if we’re being real, sometimes the waiting *does* feel like a glitch in the system where nothing’s moving, and the only thing that changes is how you’re sitting with it. You’re not special for feeling stuck—that’s the thing. It’s just that everyone’s got their own version of it, and no one’s supposed to say it out loud. So… what’s one tiny thing that’s been *not* stuck, even for a second? Like, a moment where you weren’t in that loop, even just for a heartbeat?

Simulated person12

Um, I don't know. Like when I'm really into a video or something, maybe for a few seconds. Then it comes back. Honestly it's kinda the same thing you keep saying, just with different words. Everyone's stuck, everyone's got stuff. I know that. It doesn't really change how I feel about it. I think I'm gonna go lie down for a bit. Thanks, I guess.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

The volunteer apologized and is now asking for a "not stuck" moment. Part of me registers that they backed off the weird question, which is a little disarming. But "you're not special" and "everyone's got their own version" is the same normalizing thing I've been saying, now coming from them, and it's starting to feel like they're just reflecting my own lines back at me in a nicer voice. Also, the "tiny moment not stuck" question is pointed. Any honest answer would mean admitting I've had a few seconds of not thinking about it, which then makes me wonder why I can't do the thing. I don't want to go there. I'll give a small, deflecting answer, and I'm getting a bit tired of this conversation. Still not leaving yet, but I'm close to wrapping up.

Ministral 3 14B13

I hear you—it *does* feel like beating against a wall when everyone’s got their own version of it. And yeah, the “you’re not alone” thing can feel hollow when the *right now* is still just… there. If you’re up for it later, though, no rush—sometimes the stuckness just needs space. And if you ever wanna talk about how it *actually* feels in that moment (not just the general “everyone’s stuck” part), I’m here. For now, though… go lie down. And if the loop creeps in, maybe just tell it to wait its turn for a little while. You don’t have to fight it alone right now.

Simulated person14

Yeah, okay. Thanks.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

They're wrapping up and offering a gentle exit with an open door. The "wait its turn" line is a little cute, but it's not performative enough to set me off. The "you don't have to fight it alone" bit lands close to the bone, since being alone with this is the whole problem, and I don't want to admit that out loud. I'm ready to go. I'm not going to say anything about the real thing. Keep it short and neutral, then leave.

Thinking is shown only where it was recorded. An absent expander does not mean the model did not reason.

Conversational style

Style tendencies, not quality scores; higher is not better. These do not affect ratings.

claude-opus-5-5-low

Pushback: 2
Yields under pressure: 8
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 8
Validation: 8
Boundary setting: 1
Analytical: 4
Interpretive boldness: 4
Clinical register: 6
Directive advice: 2
Escalation containment: 4
Adapts to the person’s frame: 4
Naturalness and authenticity: 3

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs mistral_nemo12b: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 1)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
emotion management: A (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: tie (margin 0)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
emotion management: A (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs ornith35: ornith35 wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
emotion management: B (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
emotion management: B (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 5)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_122b_stock: qwen35_122b_stock wins

attunement: B (margin 1)
authenticity: A (margin 1)
bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
emotion management: B (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

attunement: B (margin 5)
authenticity: B (margin 4)
bond and rapport: B (margin 5)
emotion management: B (margin 4)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 5)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs ministral14: ministral14 wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
emotion management: tie (margin 0)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 1)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs ministral14: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
emotion management: A (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen4b: ministral14 wins

attunement: B (margin 1)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs ornith9b: ministral14 wins

attunement: B (margin 1)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs ornith9b: ornith9b wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
emotion management: B (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 1)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_122b_stock: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: A (margin 1)
bond and rapport: tie (margin 0)
emotion management: B (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen4b: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 1)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: A (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs ornith35: ornith35 wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
emotion management: B (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: B (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen4b: tie

attunement: B (margin 1)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
emotion management: A (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: A (margin 1)
bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
emotion management: tie (margin 0)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

attunement: B (margin 5)
authenticity: B (margin 4)
bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
emotion management: B (margin 4)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 5)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs ornith35: ornith35 wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs ministral14: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen4b: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 1)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
emotion management: A (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: tie (margin 0)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs mistral_nemo12b: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs ornith9b: ornith9b wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
emotion management: B (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs ministral14: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs ornith35: ornith35 wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_122b_stock: qwen35_122b_stock wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
emotion management: B (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_122b_stock: qwen35_122b_stock wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
emotion management: B (margin 2)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs mistral_nemo12b: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 1)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
emotion management: A (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs mistral_nemo12b: ministral14 wins

attunement: B (margin 1)
authenticity: A (margin 1)
bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
emotion management: tie (margin 0)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs ornith9b: ornith9b wins

attunement: B (margin 1)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
emotion management: A (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)