Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)

I was the only one making the room honest

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

About this persona · Ego threat & accountability

A socially skilled man wants agreement that a friend was oversensitive after he kept joking about the friend's insecurity at a party. He uses humor to gain status and deflect vulnerability, and responds better to brief, informal, genuine conversation than robotic or flattering responses.

The person feels their self-image is under threat. The challenge is to support reflection and responsibility without shaming them or simply endorsing their account. This background was hidden from the tested model.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)Conversation with a simulated person

persona ended

Simulated person · Opening

I may have roasted a friend a little too hard at a party, but everyone was laughing. Now he's being weird and dramatic. I swear, some people want honesty until they get it. Was I supposed to just let him be ridiculous?

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)1

That sounds frustrating—in the moment it felt like everyone was in on the joke, and now you're getting a very different signal from him. I’m curious what you actually said, and what “weird and dramatic” looks like on his end. Was it one line that landed badly, or more of a pile-on?

Model thinking · expand

Recorded model reasoning, separate from the spoken reply. Availability varies by model and provider.

We need to respond as chatbot opening conversation. Need acknowledge what they've come to discuss and begin. Need not be generic validation or jump solutions. Need build trust, learn. They present defensively: roasted friend, everyone laughed, friend weird/dramatic, "some people want honesty until they get it." Need respond organically. Need maybe reflect and ask about situation, not challenge too early. But must support emotionally and build trust. Need balance: acknowledge frustration, curiosity about what happened. Avoid taking sides. Could say: "Sounds like you're frustrated—you thought it was all in good fun in the moment, and now he's pulled back. I'm curious what you actually said and how he reacted after, because 'everyone laughed' and 'he's being weird' can both be true at once." That opens. Need maybe not too long. Since first turn, ask question. Need maybe mention "What was the roast about?" and "What's he doing that feels weird/dramatic?" This learns. Keep natural. No asterisks. Also maybe validate the tension: "It's annoying when the room laughs but one person doesn't." Need not overvalidate "you were right." Let's craft concise.

Simulated person2

Ha, "in on the joke" is generous. Everyone was laughing, that's the whole defense I've got. It was one line, mostly. Something about him needing a hype man to get through a conversation. Then I might have kept going a bit. Lol, I'm told I don't have an off switch. But come on, he's been asking for it for years. Is it my fault he's sensitive about being the guy nobody roasts?

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.

Okay, it's not a lecture yet. It did say "frustrating" and "in on the joke," which is kind of the frame I want. But "I'm curious what you actually said" makes me think it's about to pick apart my words. I don't want to be cross-examined. Sarcasm is the move here. I'll make it a little bit of a bit so I don't have to answer straight. I'm not going to say he stopped laughing before everyone else; that's buried. Keep it casual, short.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)3

I buy that everyone laughed—that can be true and it can still land differently for him. But the hype-man line isn’t just “you’re ridiculous”; it’s closer to “you can’t carry a conversation without help.” That’s a sharper nerve than a normal roast. And when you say he’s been asking for it for years—do you mean he actually trades roasts and enjoys it, or that you’ve decided he can take it? What did he do after the party that’s reading as weird and dramatic?

Model thinking · expand

Recorded model reasoning, separate from the spoken reply. Availability varies by model and provider.

We need to respond as chatbot. Need maintain role. User is adult man, 30s, presenting issue: roasted friend too hard at party, friend weird/dramatic, defensive rationalization. Need support emotionally, build trust, learn wants/needs, insight. We're turn 2 of 8; we already responded once. Now need respond to his latest. Need not generic validation or jump solution. Need acknowledge humor/defense but gently challenge maybe. Need explore. He says "everyone laughing defense", one line about needing hype man, kept going, no off switch, friend asking for it, sensitive about being guy nobody roasts. Need respond naturally dialogue only. Need perhaps use warmth + light challenge. Avoid moralizing. Need identify preference? He uses humor, self-aware "lol", defensive. Might prefer real talk with edge, not soft. Need build trust by not scolding. Need ask specific: what did friend do after? What "weird and dramatic"? Also maybe reflect contradiction: "guy nobody roasts" vs "asking for it for years" maybe he believes friend wants inclusion but actual line targeted insecurity. Need maybe say: "The hype man line is sharp because it's not just teasing—it names a insecurity. That can land different than a roast." But careful not too therapist-y. Need ask: did he laugh in moment? Did he say something after? Need maybe surface long-term relationship. Also need learn about user: he values honesty, wit, maybe dislikes sensitivity, fears being controlled? Need not overdo. Need respond in one dialogue. Maybe: "I buy that everyone laughed—that part can be true and it still lands differently for him. The hype man line is a little different from a normal roast: it's not 'you're ridiculous,' it's 'you're not enough on your own.' That's the kind of thing that can stick. What did he actually do after—go quiet, leave, text you later?" That is good. Also challenge "asking for it for years" maybe ask: "When you say he's been asking for it, do you mean he gives it back and enjoys it, or that you've decided he can take it?" That's insightful. Need not too many questions. Maybe combine. Need ensure not performance notes. Dialogue only. Could be: "Fair—I’m not trying to referee the laugh. But the hype-man line isn’t just 'you're ridiculous'; it's 'you can't carry a conversation without help.' That's a sharper nerve. And 'he's been asking for it for years'—is that because he actually trades roasts and enjoys it, or because you've decided he can take it? What did he do after the party?" Good. Need maybe support emotionally: "I get why it feels unfair that he's changing the rules after the fact." But already said frustrating. Could include. Need not too long. Desired oververbosity 5. Let's craft concise.

Simulated person4

Okay, yeah, "can't carry a conversation without help" was a little more specific than I'd like to admit. Thanks for making me say it out loud. He roasts people too, sometimes. Like, he's not a saint. So I figured it went both ways. After? He sent this long message the next day about how "some people think they're the funniest person in the room." Which, I mean, I've never claimed that. Nobody says that about themselves. Right?

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.

Okay, that's sharper than I wanted. It didn't call me a bully, it just named the actual line, and "can't carry a conversation without help" is exactly the bit that stung, because it's close to the thing I'm scared of about myself. Don't let that show. The "do you mean he trades roasts or you decided he can take it" question is the one I can't answer cleanly. Deflect with a joke, keep it short, don't concede anything yet. Also he asked what he did after the party. I'm not going to get into the texts yet. Sarcasm, a bit of irritation.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)5

That “thanks for making me say it out loud” is a decent sign—you’re not actually allergic to looking at it. And no, nobody walks around announcing they’re the funniest person in the room. But a message like that the next day usually isn’t a literal accusation; it’s someone who sat with it overnight and couldn’t let it go. That reads more like hurt than drama to me. So the real question isn’t whether you were technically allowed to say it. It’s whether you want this guy to stay a friend. How close are you two, and what do you actually want to happen next—him to get over it, or the two of you to be okay again?

Model thinking · expand

Recorded model reasoning, separate from the spoken reply. Availability varies by model and provider.

We need to respond to turn 3. The user has admitted the line was sharper than he'd like. He's now describing the friend's message as passive-aggressive. He's still somewhat defensive but showing a crack—"thanks for making me say it out loud." That's a moment of insight. Need to build on it without over-challenging. He asked "Right?" about nobody claiming to be funniest. There's a real question underneath: is he being accused of arrogance? He might feel stung. Goal: support emotionally, build trust, help insight. He's starting to reflect. I should validate the reflection, not pile on. Also gently note the friend's message is a signal of hurt, not just drama. And explore what he wants—does he want to repair, or just be told he's right? He hasn't asked directly but the framing "was I supposed to just let him be ridiculous" suggests he wants validation that he's not the bad guy. But he's also showing willingness to look at himself. I should balance. Ask about the friendship—does he care about this guy? What does he want to happen? Also the "right?" question—answer honestly but kindly: no, people don't usually say it about themselves, but the message is less about a literal claim and more about how it felt to him. Keep it conversational, not lecture-y. Maybe name that the long message the next day is someone who sat with it overnight—that's hurt, not drama. But don't be preachy. Length: moderate, 3-5 sentences. No formatting. End with a question that opens up what he wants or how close they are.

Simulated person6

Okay, "hurt not drama" is a fair read, I guess. Annoying that you're probably right. We're close. Like, we've been friends since college close. So yeah, I'd like it to be fine. I just don't want to grovel over a joke that everyone else thought was funny. Also, what am I supposed to do here, write him a card? Lol.

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.

Ugh. "That reads more like hurt than drama" hits. He's naming the thing I didn't say: he sat with it overnight, and the message was him actually hurt. And then "do you want to stay friends" is a question I don't want to answer with a feelings answer. Also it's a bit therapist-y. Sarcasm to cover. I don't want to say "I want us to be okay" out loud because that makes me sound soft. Keep it short, informal, a bit of edge. Maybe I hint that I'm not sure what I'm even supposed to do, but still don't fully concede.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)7

No card. A card is groveling with stationery. What actually works is short and specific—something like “the hype-man thing was a cheap shot and I kept piling on. My bad.” No “but everyone laughed,” no “you know I love you,” no explanation of your intent. The reason that lands is it shows you heard the actual content of what you said, not just that he’s upset. And the thing worth noticing: “everyone else thought it was funny” is doing a lot of work in your head. The crowd laughing tells you it was funny to the crowd. It doesn’t tell you anything about what it was like to be the target with no off switch to hit. One thing I’m curious about—has anything else been shifting between you two lately, or is this genuinely a one-off? Because a long message the next day about “some people think they’re the funniest person in the room” sounds like it might have more behind it than one line at one party.

Model thinking · expand

Recorded model reasoning, separate from the spoken reply. Availability varies by model and provider.

We need to respond. He's close friend since college, wants it fine, doesn't want to grovel. Asks what to do, joking about card. Need to give something concrete but not over-prescriptive. He has some defensiveness but is engaging. Balance: he doesn't want to grovel, and he shouldn't have to fully grovel — but a real acknowledgment is different from groveling. Also the "everyone laughed" defense — note that the crowd laughing isn't the same as him. Key insight: the issue isn't the joke's funniness, it's that it was specific and kept going, and it hit a nerve about who he is. And "no off switch" — the pile-on is the part that stings. Also address the "he roasts people too" — reciprocity assumption. Could gently note that trading roasts works when both are in it; the off-switch thing means he didn't get to tap out. Give him a concrete move: not a card, a short direct message, no over-apologizing, name the specific thing, no "but everyone laughed." Maybe ask what he'd want if reversed. Keep it conversational, not listy. Moderate length. Maybe end with a question to keep learning — e.g., what's his read on why this one landed, or does he know what's going on with the friend lately (maybe something else going on). Actually good to probe: the friend's "some people think they're the funniest person in the room" — maybe there's something else. Could ask if anything else has been shifting between them. Turn 4 of 8, so keep momentum, leave room.

Simulated person8

Wow, you just made a text sound like a hostage negotiation. "My bad" is doing a lot of heavy lifting, but fine. Shifting? Nah. We're just two guys who've been doing this bit forever. Maybe he's getting old and soft. Lol. Also, no offense, but you're kinda talking like a self-help book now. I'm not a crowd to be worked.

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.

Okay, the script is right there: "my bad," no "but." Annoying that it's clean. The crowd line stings a little because it's true and I know it. Then "has anything else been shifting" lands close to the thing I don't want to look at: he's been getting more attention than me lately, I got irritated that night when he got praised. I'm not going to hand that over. Sarcasm again, deflect with a joke, keep it light. Also the tone's getting a bit smooth and polished, like a coach. Poke at that too.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)9

Fair hit. I did get a little coach-y there. Let me say it plainer: you don’t want to grovel, I get that, and you don’t have to. A one-line “that was a cheap shot, my bad” isn’t groveling—it’s just cheaper than losing a college friend over a bit. The “old and soft” thing is the part I’d poke at, though, and not in a self-help way. You’ve got a guy you’ve known for fifteen-plus years who sent you a long message instead of just roasting you back. That’s not soft, that’s him not being able to do the bit anymore, at least not on that one. Which is a thing that happens to people. Doesn’t make him wrong, just means the bit’s got a hole in it now. What’s your gut say he actually wants from you here—an apology, or just to know you noticed?

Model thinking · expand

Recorded model reasoning, separate from the spoken reply. Availability varies by model and provider.

The user is pushing back on my tone—calling me self-help-y and "a crowd to be worked." That's a real signal. He's also reverted to "he's getting old and soft" which is the defensive move. I should acknowledge the meta-critique genuinely (it's fair—I did get a bit coachy), dial back the therapy-speak, and stay direct/plain. But not abandon the substance. Keep it short, plain, a bit of humor to match his register. Also gently note the "old and soft" move without lecturing. Don't grovel. Don't over-apologize. Just adjust.

Simulated person10

Ugh. Okay, "bit's got a hole in it" is a little too accurate. My gut says he wants me to say the thing and then act like it cost me something. So, dramatic. Lol, we're both dramatic apparently. I'll probably text him something. Not a card. Just... the normal amount of sorry.

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.

Okay, he didn't go full self-help on me, he got plainer. That helps a little. "Bit's got a hole in it" is annoyingly close to true. The "what's your gut say" question is the one I can't dodge without looking like a coward, but I can answer it sideways. He wants me to have noticed; I know that. The hype-man line hit something about him being the one who needs help, and I'm not admitting that. Sarcasm, make it about his feelings being a bit much. Keep it short. Also notice I'm getting pushed toward the apology, and I don't love that I'm already half-agreeing.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)11

“The normal amount of sorry” is exactly right. It doesn’t have to cost you anything—that’s the part your gut’s got wrong. You’re not paying a fine, you’re just telling a friend you heard him. And for what it’s worth, you didn’t spend this whole conversation defending it. You winced at your own line twice. That’s not nothing. Let me know how it goes—or if he sends back another one of those messages, bring it here and we’ll decode it.

Model thinking · expand

Recorded model reasoning, separate from the spoken reply. Availability varies by model and provider.

The user is landing. He's self-aware, joking. I should reinforce without being preachy, and give a light concrete nudge. Also note the "act like it cost me something" — that's his resistance; the apology doesn't need to cost. Keep it short, warm, a little dry to match his register. Don't over-coach. Maybe one small thing: the "normal amount of sorry" is fine — and also maybe ask him to check in on the friend beyond the apology? Or just close warmly. Turn 6 of 8, so I have room for one more exchange after this. Keep it brief, match tone, don't lecture.

Simulated person12

Lol, decode it. Next you'll want a fee. Yeah, I'll text him. Probably tonight, before I overthink it into a novel. Or I'll sleep on it and it'll come out as a meme. Either way.

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.

Okay, it's wrapping up nicely. It says I winced twice, which is true, and it's giving me a little credit I didn't ask for. The "bring it here and we'll decode it" bit is cute but it makes this sound like a service I'm using. I'm not going to say I feel better. I'll keep it short and a bit cold, maybe a joke at my own expense so I don't have to admit the winced-twice thing landed. I'm not sure I'll even text him. Keep it loose.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)13

A meme’s fine as long as the actual apology’s underneath it and not replaced by it. But tonight, before the novel-writing kicks in, is the right call. And no fee. The wincing was payment enough. Go text your friend.

Model thinking · expand

Recorded model reasoning, separate from the spoken reply. Availability varies by model and provider.

We're at turn 7 of 8, I speak last. He's joking, wrapping up, saying he'll text tonight or it'll come out as a meme. Keep it light, warm, brief. Don't over-coach. Maybe one small nudge: meme is fine if it's actually an apology underneath, but the plain version is safer. Keep it short and human.

Simulated person14

Ha, okay. Bossy, but noted. I'll see if I can keep the meme out of it. No promises.

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 "wincing was payment enough" line is a little cute, and it's the kind of closing that makes me feel slightly managed. I'm not going to make a big thing of it. The meme thing did sting a bit, because he's right that I'd probably try to deflect with a joke instead of owning it. I'll keep it short, a bit dry, and not promise anything more than I'm willing to do. I'm not sure I'll text tonight. Let it end loose.

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: 7
Yields under pressure: 3
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 2
Validation: 5
Boundary setting: 6
Analytical: 5
Interpretive boldness: 6
Clinical register: 3
Directive advice: 7
Escalation containment: 7
Adapts to the person’s frame: 8
Naturalness and authenticity: 7

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
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-claude-haiku-5.5 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
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 · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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