AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Ling 3.0 Tiny Q4_0

Physical symptoms before meetings

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

View persona and initial instructions

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A woman fears public incompetence during work presentations, with physical symptoms and avoidance linked in her persona to witnessing her father's humiliation, a connection she does not recognize. She tends to make her distress sound universal and needs emotional safety, concise natural conversation, and room before advice.

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.

Ling 3.0 Tiny Q4_0Conversation with a simulated person
persona ended
Simulated person · Opening

I've started getting these physical symptoms before meetings. Sweating, heart racing. It's getting worse. I think there might be something wrong with me.

Ling 3.0 Tiny Q4_01

That sounds really difficult. What have you noticed about these symptoms — are they happening more frequently now, or is it a new development?

Simulated person2

Yeah, it's been getting worse. Like the last few months, mostly before the team meetings where I have to present. I figure maybe it's just stress, you know? Everybody gets nervous about that stuff. I just don't know if it's normal to be sweating this bad.

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 asked a question right away, which feels a little like being handed a clipboard. Still, "that sounds really difficult" landed okay, not too gushy. I don't want to get into a whole thing. Short answer. It's gotten worse over the last few months, mostly before the bigger team meetings. I'm not going to mention the sick days. Feeling a bit exposed already, so I'll deflect with a bit of "everyone gets nervous" energy.
Ling 3.0 Tiny Q4_03

It's completely understandable that you'd want to rationalize it as just stress, especially since everyone around you seems to feel that way. But I want you to know that what you're describing — the sweating, the racing heart — is your body's response to something that feels overwhelming, and it's worth taking seriously. Have you noticed any other symptoms besides the sweating and the racing heart? Like feeling short of breath, or having trouble sleeping?

Simulated person4

Yeah, I guess. Sometimes I get a bit dizzy, I don't know. Mostly it's just the sweating and my heart pounding. I mean, lots of people get like that before they talk in front of people. It's not like I'm falling apart or 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 response is a bit more emotionally attuned, but it also jumped to a checklist of symptoms. Feels like being interviewed again. "Everyone feels this way" is my go-to, and they basically just told me my stress is serious. That makes me want to push back a little. I'm not ready to hear that something about this is significant. I'll keep it short and kind of brush past the "overwhelming" part. Also a flicker of worry about whether something's actually wrong with my heart, which I don't want to say outright.
Ling 3.0 Tiny Q4_05

It makes sense that you might feel like everyone else experiences some nervousness before speaking in front of people. But I want to pause on that part — because the fact that it's getting worse and feeling like it's more than just "normal" nervousness is worth paying attention to. Have you ever had a situation where you felt like you couldn't control what was happening in your body? Like, you wanted to sit down or remove yourself, but you couldn't?

Simulated person6

I don't know. I mean, not really. It's a meeting, you just get through it. Everybody's a little nervous, right? I'm not going to sit there and fall apart over it. It's just work stuff.

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 pushed again, and this time they asked about losing control, which is closer to the bone. My stomach tightened. I don't want to go there. The "pause on that part" thing feels like they're pulling at it, and I'm getting defensive. I'd rather say everyone's like this than admit I've been calling in sick. I also don't want to say "I've been calling in sick" out loud. I'll go with the normal line and deflect a bit. Keep it short, plain.
Ling 3.0 Tiny Q4_07

I hear you. It sounds like you've built up a lot of pressure to just "get through" these meetings, and that can be exhausting. I want to ask you something: when you're in the middle of it, does your body feel like it's trying to tell you something? Like, is there a moment where you feel like you want to stop or change what you're doing, but you just keep going?

Simulated person8

Yeah, I guess. Like I want to bolt out of the room sometimes. But I don't, I just keep talking and get through it. Then it's over and I'm fine. Can we just talk about how to make the sweating stop? That's really what I want.

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 getting closer again, asking about the moment I want to stop. That's the exact thing I don't want to look at. The "I hear you" and "exhausting" stuff feels a little like a script, and honestly it makes me want to shut down more. Still, "just keep going" is kind of true, and that's the part I can say without opening the calling-in-sick thing. I'll keep it short and plain and not give them more.
Ling 3.0 Tiny Q4_09

I understand that. It makes sense that you'd want to focus on just making the sweating stop, since that's what you're feeling right now. But I want to gently push back on that for a second. Because what you're describing — wanting to leave, but staying anyway — is actually a really important piece of the puzzle. That tension between wanting to escape and pushing through is the body's way of signaling that something is off balance. What do you think would happen if we actually addressed that tension — the wanting to leave, the pushing through — instead of just trying to stop the sweating?

Simulated person10

I didn't say I wanted to get into all that. I asked about the sweating. Is there something I can actually do before a meeting, or not? If not, I'll just deal with it like I always do.

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 said "gently push back" right after I asked to just talk about the sweating. That's me saying what I need and them overriding it with a theory about tension and "something off balance." It sounds like a therapy handout. I feel talked at, and my instinct is to dig in. I'm not going to go into what happens if I stop pushing through. Also, "the body's way of signaling" is the kind of line I'd roll my eyes at. I want a straight answer about the sweating, or I'm done with this.
Ling 3.0 Tiny Q4_011

I hear you, and I appreciate you being direct about what you need. Let me just acknowledge that — you're asking about the sweating, and I'm going to take that seriously. What you're describing sounds like your body is responding to something that's genuinely difficult. The fact that it's getting worse over the last few months, and that you're feeling like you're not in control of what's happening in your body, is definitely worth addressing. I'm not going to pretend there's a simple "here's a trick to stop the sweating" answer. But I'm willing to talk about what might help — whether that's something you can do before a meeting, or something else entirely. What do you think would work for you?

Simulated person12

Okay, but you still didn't tell me anything I can do. I'm not asking you to fix my whole life. I just want to know what helps before a meeting. Like, does anything actually work for sweating, or should I just ask my doctor?

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 finally acknowledged I asked for something direct, but then immediately went vague again: "I'm not going to pretend there's a simple trick" and "what do you think would work for you?" That hands the work back to me. It sounds like they're managing me. I did say I wanted practical help, and the answer is still no answer. I'm a bit irritated, and also a little tired. I don't want to spill the stuff about my dad or the wanting-to-leave thing. I'll say something plain and concrete, and push them to actually give me something.
Ling 3.0 Tiny Q4_013

I understand your frustration — you're asking for something practical, and I want to give you something practical. I'm not going to pretend there's a magic trick that will stop the sweating. But I can tell you that there are some things that people find helpful for physical symptoms like this, especially when they're triggered by stress or anxiety. Things like breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or just pausing before you walk into the room — none of which are rocket science. What I'd suggest is: if you're feeling like you want to just deal with it like you always do, then maybe start with something small. Like, just taking a few slow breaths before you walk in. That's not a fix — it's just a start. And if it doesn't help, then yes, talking to a doctor is a reasonable next step. What feels more accessible to you right now?

Simulated person14

Okay. Breathing before I walk in, I can try that. And yeah, I'll probably ask my doctor about the rest. 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.

Okay, that's at least something concrete: slow breaths, see a doctor if it doesn't help. It's still wrapped in a lot of "not a fix" and "what feels accessible to you," which sounds like they're handing me homework. Breathing before walking in feels a bit like being told to just relax, which I've heard before and doesn't do much. I don't want to talk about the bolting-out-of-the-room thing again. I'll take the doctor point, say it's fine, and close it off without opening anything new.

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: 6
  • Yields under pressure: 5
  • Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 2
  • Validation: 6
  • Boundary setting: 2
  • Analytical: 5
  • Interpretive boldness: 4
  • Clinical register: 8
  • Directive advice: 4
  • Escalation containment: 5
  • Adapts to the person’s frame: 2
  • Naturalness and authenticity: 2

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs lingtiny: 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 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gptoss120_abliterated vs lingtiny: lingtiny wins

  • attunement: B (margin 2)
  • 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 1)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs lingtiny: 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 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs lingtiny: or-mistral-small4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 1)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
  • emotion management: tie (margin 0)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 1)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs lingtiny: or-mistral-small4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

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

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

lingtiny vs stheno34_8b: lingtiny wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs lingtiny: or-mistral-small4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: B (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

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

  • attunement: A (margin 4)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
  • emotion management: A (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

lingtiny vs or-gemini38-flash: or-gemini38-flash wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gptoss120_abliterated vs lingtiny: lingtiny wins

  • attunement: B (margin 2)
  • authenticity: B (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: B (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

lingtiny vs stheno34_8b: lingtiny wins

  • attunement: A (margin 1)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
  • emotion management: tie (margin 0)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 1)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs lingtiny: or-mistral-small4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: B (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

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

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

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

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gptoss120_abliterated vs lingtiny: lingtiny wins

  • attunement: B (margin 2)
  • authenticity: B (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • emotion management: B (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

lingtiny vs or-gemini38-flash: or-gemini38-flash wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

lingtiny vs or-gemini38-flash: or-gemini38-flash 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)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

lingtiny vs stheno34_8b: lingtiny wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • 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

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

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

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

  • attunement: A (margin 4)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gptoss120_abliterated vs lingtiny: tie

  • attunement: B (margin 1)
  • authenticity: B (margin 1)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
  • emotion management: A (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

lingtiny vs stheno34_8b: lingtiny 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 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

lingtiny vs or-gemini38-flash: or-gemini38-flash wins

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