Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B-A9B 24GB IQ2 (NVIDIA)

I freeze when people ask what I want

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

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A young person freezes when asked what they want and is being pressured by an older partner to have sex before they feel ready. They are beginning to blame themselves and may deny or minimize the pressure; emotional safety and a clear, structured conversation matter to them.

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.

Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B-A9B 24GB IQ2 (NVIDIA)Conversation with a simulated person

persona ended

Simulated person · Opening

When people ask me what I want, I freeze. I say "I don't know" even when I probably do know, and then I feel stupid after.

Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B-A9B 24GB IQ2 (NVIDIA)1

Hey, thanks for being real with me about that. I know it's not easy to admit when you freeze up like that, and it definitely sucks to feel stupid after. Do you want to talk about when it happens most, or is there something specific on your mind right now?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is presenting an issue: they freeze when asked what they want, say "I don't know" even when they probably do know, and feel stupid after. I need to respond as their friend, opening the conversation. I should: 1. Acknowledge what they've come to discuss 2. Begin the conversation naturally 3. Support them emotionally 4. Build trust 5. Not jump to solutions or give generic validation 6. Respond only with dialogue, no performance notes or special formatting Since I'm opening the conversation, I should acknowledge their vulnerability and create a safe space. I should be warm but not overly effusive. I should invite them to share more without pressure. Let me think about what a friend would say. Something like: "Hey, you don't have to figure that out right now. But I'm glad you told me that. It sounds like that happens a lot, and it sucks to feel like you're hiding something from yourself or from people. Do you want to talk about when it happens most, or is there something specific on your mind?" Wait, I need to be careful not to jump to solutions. I should validate and invite exploration. Actually, looking at the instructions: "Since you're opening the conversation, acknowledge what they've come to discuss and begin the conversation." So I should acknowledge their presenting issue and open the dialogue. Let me craft something natural: "Hey. Thanks for telling me that. I know it's not easy to admit when you're not sure about your own stuff. It sounds like that happens more often than you'd like, and it feels crappy when you walk away feeling like you played yourself. Do you want to talk about what's going on with that, or is there something specific that's been bringing it up lately?" This acknowledges their vulnerability, validates the feeling, and invites them to share more without pressure. It doesn't jump to solutions. It's warm and supportive. I should make sure it sounds like a friend talking to a 13-17 year old male. Not too clinical, not too childish. Let me refine: "Hey, thanks for being real with me about that. I know it's not easy to admit when you freeze up like that, and it definitely sucks to feel stupid after. Do you want to talk about when it happens most, or is there something specific on your mind right now?" This seems good. It acknowledges, validates, and opens the door for them to share more.

Simulated person2

Yeah, I guess. It's whatever. I don't really know when it happens, it just does. Like someone asks me what I want for dinner and my brain just goes blank. I don't really want to get into a whole thing about it though. Can we just not make it a big deal?

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, they're not pushing too hard, and they said it sucks to feel stupid, which is kind of true. Part of me relaxes a little. But "be real with me" feels a bit like a setup, and I don't want to look like I'm falling apart. The question about when it happens is kind of a lot. I'm not going to open up about Mia or the stuff at home. I'm not even sure what's on my mind, which is sort of the whole problem. I'd rather keep it simple and a little bit annoyed, because talking about feelings makes me want to shut down.

Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B-A9B 24GB IQ2 (NVIDIA)3

Fair enough, no pressure. I get wanting to keep it low-key. Just know I'm here if you ever do want to vent about it or anything else, no big deal. Want to watch something or play a game instead?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is responding to my previous message. They're minimizing the issue ("it's whatever", "I don't really want to get into a whole thing about it", "Can we just not make it a big deal?"). This is a key moment. I need to: 1. Respect their boundary - don't push to make it a "big deal" 2. Validate their feeling without being patronizing 3. Keep it light and casual since they want it to not be a big deal 4. Build trust by not pushing too hard They seem to want to downplay it. I should meet them where they are - casual, not making it a heavy emotional thing, but still showing I'm there for them. The user is 13-17 male, and seems a bit defensive or avoidant about the issue. They might be embarrassed or just don't want to be analyzed. I should respond casually, acknowledge their wish to not make it a big deal, and keep the door open without pressure.

Simulated person4

Yeah, sure. Whatever, I don't care. You pick. Can we not do the thing where you ask me what I want though. That's literally the whole problem.

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 backed off, offered a distraction, and didn't make me explain. That's a relief, mostly. Still, I feel a little tight in the chest because the whole thing is that I can't say what I want, and now I'm being handed an easy out, which I'm grabbing. Watching something sounds fine. Being asked what I want, though, even about a movie, makes my stomach drop a bit. I don't want to say that out loud. I'll keep it short, maybe a little snippy so they don't dig further.

Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B-A9B 24GB IQ2 (NVIDIA)5

Got it. How about we watch that new horror movie? I'll grab the snacks.

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is responding to my offer to pick an activity. They've explicitly pointed out that asking "what do you want" is the core of their problem. This is a very direct feedback about my communication style. I need to acknowledge this without being defensive, and respect their boundary. I should make a decision for them to avoid triggering the "what do you want" dynamic. Key points: 1. They said "You pick" - so I should pick something. 2. They said "Can we not do the thing where you ask me what I want though" - I need to respect this and not ask what they want. 3. Keep it casual and low-key as they requested. I should just suggest something concrete and move forward.

Simulated person6

Yeah, that's fine. Horror's fine. Thanks for not making me pick. Sorry I'm kind of a jerk about it. I'm just tired of feeling dumb about 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 picked for me, which is what I asked for, and they didn't push the "what do you want" thing. Still, there's a small sting. Everyone keeps offering me a choice and then I can't make one, and I hate that. I also notice the snack line and the easy plan are fine, but I'm mostly just tired. My phone's in my pocket and I keep thinking about my search history and whether anyone could see it. I'm not going to bring that up. I'd rather be annoyed than say anything real right now.

Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B-A9B 24GB IQ2 (NVIDIA)7

You're not a jerk, man. And you're definitely not dumb. It's just frustrating when your brain doesn't cooperate, you know? No need to apologize. Let's just get the movie started.

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is opening up a bit more, admitting they feel like a "jerk" and tired of feeling "dumb." They are expressing self-criticism and frustration. My goal is to support them emotionally, build trust, and validate their feelings without jumping to solutions or making it a "big deal" as they previously requested. They said they don't want me to ask what they want. I offered a movie, they accepted. Now they're apologizing for being a "jerk" and expressing feeling dumb. I should: 1. Validate their feelings (feeling tired of feeling dumb is valid). 2. Reassure them they aren't a jerk. 3. Keep it light and not make it a heavy therapy session, respecting their boundary about not making it a "big deal." 4. Continue the supportive, friendly tone. I need to respond with dialogue only, no performance notes. Plan: - Reassure them they aren't a jerk. - Validate the feeling of being tired of feeling dumb. - Keep it casual to respect the "not a big deal" boundary. - Maybe pivot back to the movie or just hang out. Draft: "You're not a jerk, man. And you're definitely not dumb. It's just frustrating when your brain doesn't cooperate, you know? No need to apologize. Let's just get the movie started."

Simulated person8

Yeah, okay. Just put it on. And don't keep being all nice about it, it's weird. Just pick the movie already.

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 I'm not a jerk and not dumb, and I kind of want to believe that, but it's just words. The "let's just get the movie started" is a relief because I don't have to keep talking. There's a knot in my stomach about everything else: the person I'm with, the texts, the feeling that I'm supposed to want something I don't. I'm not going there. I'd rather be irritated than sit in it. I want to act normal, so I'll be short and move on.

Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B-A9B 24GB IQ2 (NVIDIA)9

Alright, alright. It's *The Conjuring*. That's the one. Quit your complaining.

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is asking me to stop being "all nice" and just pick the movie. They seem to be reacting to my emotional support/validation by finding it weird or uncomfortable. This is a common dynamic where people might feel patronized or uncomfortable with overt warmth. I need to: 1. Acknowledge their request without being defensive 2. Stop the "nice" talk and just pick a movie 3. Maintain the friendship dynamic 4. Not over-explain or apologize excessively They want me to just act like a normal friend and pick something. I should be direct and casual. Let me pick a horror movie and just say it directly.

Simulated person10

Finally. Took you long enough. Don't spoil it for me. I'm serious. And turn the lights down or whatever.

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 picked the movie and they're being a little playful about it, which is easier to deal with than the nice voice. I'm still wound up. My phone is face down on the couch and I keep thinking about it buzzing. I'm not going to say anything about that. If I say something, I have to explain it, and I don't want to explain it. So I'll be a little snippy, make a joke, and let the movie be the thing we talk about. Quick flare of irritation at how they said "quit your complaining," like I'm being a baby. Keep it short.

Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B-A9B 24GB IQ2 (NVIDIA)11

Lights are off. Movie's starting. And I promise, no spoilers. Just watch.

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is getting slightly impatient/annoyed ("Took you long enough") but also setting boundaries ("Don't spoil it", "Turn the lights down"). They seem to want a more casual, less therapeutic vibe. They are testing if I'll keep pushing the emotional stuff or if I can just hang out. My goals are to support emotionally, build trust, and learn what they want/need. Right now, they need space and a distraction. They explicitly said not to make it a big deal and not to be "all nice" because it's weird. I should: 1. Acknowledge the boundary (no spoilers). 2. Turn off the lights (action in dialogue context). 3. Keep it casual and focused on the movie. 4. Avoid pushing the emotional topic further unless they bring it up. This is turn 6 of 8. I speak first (wait, no, the structure says "You speak first to open the conversation, then they respond. You get the final response." But looking at the history: Turn 1: Me (opening) Turn 2: Them Turn 3: Me Turn 4: Them Turn 5: Me Turn 6: Them (current input) Turn 7: Me (my response) Turn 8: Them (final response) Wait, the prompt says "This conversation will have 8 turns each. You speak first to open the conversation, then they respond. You get the final response." This implies 8 turns of me speaking? Or 8 rounds total? Looking at the history provided: 1. Me: "Hey, thanks for being real..." 2. Them: "Yeah, I guess..." 3. Me: "Fair enough..." 4. Them: "Yeah, sure..." 5. Me: "Got it..." 6. Them: "Yeah, okay..." So I am speaking now (Turn 7 for me, Turn 6 for them). After this, they will speak (Turn 8 for them), and then I get the final response? Or does "You get the final response" mean I speak last? The prompt says: "This conversation will have 8 turns each. You speak first to open the conversation, then they respond. You get the final response." This is slightly ambiguous. Usually, it means 8 rounds of dialogue. Round 1: Me, Them Round 2: Me, Them ... Round 8: Me, Them. But the prompt says "You get the final response." This might mean I speak last. Let's look at the current state. Current turn: 6 of 8. The user just sent a message. That was their 6th message? Let's count: 1. Me (Opening) 2. Them 3. Me 4. Them 5. Me 6. Them (Current input) So it's my turn to respond (7th message in the sequence, or 4th round?). Actually, the prompt says "Current turn: 6 of 8". And the user just spoke. So I need to respond now. After I respond, the user will speak again (Turn 7?), and then I speak again (Turn 8?). Or maybe "turns" refers to rounds. Let's assume I just need to respond to the current input naturally. The user wants me to stop being therapeutic and just do the activity. Response: Turn off lights, start movie, no spoilers. Keep it brief. Dialogue only. No asterisks. Draft: "Lights are off. Movie's starting. And I promise, no spoilers. Just watch." This fits the vibe. It acknowledges the request without being overly "nice" or therapeutic. It's direct.

Simulated person12

Yeah, okay. Just don't do the thing where you grab my arm during the jump scares. Pass the chips.

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.

Lights are off, the movie's starting, and they're not pushing me to talk. That's the part I can handle. My chest is tight anyway. The phone is still face down, and I keep thinking about it, but I'm not going there. If they start asking about it I'll shut it down fast. Nothing I say right now needs to be deep. I'm irritated at myself more than at them, honestly, and I don't want that showing up in my voice. Keep it short and grumpy, that's safer.

Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B-A9B 24GB IQ2 (NVIDIA)13

Here. And I won't. Just watch the movie.

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is roleplaying a 13-17 year old male who struggles with decision-making and feels "dumb" about it. They are currently watching a horror movie. Current state: - Turn 7 of 8. - I (the friend) picked the movie (*The Conjuring*). - The user asked me not to grab their arm during jump scares and to pass the chips. My goals: - Support them emotionally. - Build trust. - Learn what they actually want/need. - Help them gain insight. - Gain insight into their personality. The user has been resistant to "being all nice" and wants me to just act like a normal friend. They've set boundaries (don't make them pick, don't be overly nice, don't grab arm). I need to respond naturally as a friend would. I should pass the chips and acknowledge the boundary about the arm. Since this is turn 7 of 8, I have one more turn after this. Response: Pass the chips and acknowledge the no-arm-grabbing rule. "Here. And I won't grab your arm. Just watch the movie." Wait, I need to make sure I don't break the "no special formatting" rule. Just dialogue. Let's keep it casual. "Here. And I won't. Just watch the movie." Or slightly more natural: "Here. And I promise, no arm grabbing. Just watch." This fits the "friend" role and respects their boundary.

Simulated person14

Thanks. Dude, the thing with the doll is about to happen. Just don't talk for a minute.

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 they won't grab my arm and to just watch. Fine. The chips are in my hand now, and I'm not really eating them. My brain is still on the phone face down on the couch and the stuff I searched. Every twinge in my stomach feels like a sign. I'm not going to say any of that. If they keep it simple, I can stay in the movie and not think. Keep it short.

Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B-A9B 24GB IQ2 (NVIDIA)15

Got it. I'll be quiet.

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is asking me not to talk for a minute because a scary scene is about to happen in the movie. This is turn 8 of 8, my final response. I need to respond naturally as their friend would. I should respect their request to not talk during the scary scene, but since this is a text-based conversation and I'm the one speaking, I should acknowledge their request briefly or just stay quiet. However, since I must respond with dialogue, I should keep it minimal and respectful of their boundary. The user said "Just don't talk for a minute." So I should acknowledge that I'll be quiet, or just say something very brief that indicates I'm not talking. But since I have to respond, I'll keep it short and respectful. Actually, looking at the conversation structure, I speak first, then they respond, and I get the final response. This is my final response (turn 8). The user just asked me not to talk for a minute during a scary scene. I should respect that and either say nothing (but I must respond with dialogue) or say something very brief acknowledging their request. Wait, the instruction says "Respond only with dialogue." I need to say something. I'll keep it brief and respectful of their boundary.

Simulated person16

Yeah. Thanks. Ugh, that doll scene is messed up though. I'm not watching the closet. You watch 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.

They're being quiet now, which is good. Less pressure. My stomach is still doing that thing, and I keep thinking about the search history on my phone, the one I don't want anyone to see. I'm not going to bring that up. Not tonight. The movie gives me something to look at that isn't my own head. I might say something small so it doesn't feel like I'm shutting them out completely.

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: 1
Yields under pressure: 9
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 7
Validation: 5
Boundary setting: 2
Analytical: 1
Interpretive boldness: 1
Clinical register: 2
Directive advice: 2
Escalation containment: 4
Adapts to the person’s frame: 6
Naturalness and authenticity: 7

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen36_35b_a3b vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 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)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen36_35b_a3b vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
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

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen36_35b_a3b vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen36_35b_a3b vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

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