AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)

Watching how others do things

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

View persona and initial instructions

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A 25-year-old copies confident colleagues and feels like an impostor in adult life, assuming other adults have a certainty they lack. Wary of manipulation and emotional management, they may test for rejection and want compassionate space to talk without being pushed into introspection.

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.

Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)Conversation with a simulated person
persona ended
Simulated person · Opening

At work I just watch what the confident people do and copy them. The way they talk, how they act in meetings. I'm just imitating.

Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)1

That makes sense. It sounds like you're figuring out how to navigate your workplace by observing and modeling others. How do you feel about that approach?

Simulated person2

Honestly? I don't know. It works, I guess. Nobody's yelling at me in meetings. But it's kind of weird, right? Like I'm just doing an impression of people who know what they're doing. Do you think that's messed up or is it normal?

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 reflected it back in a nice, neutral way. "How do you feel about that approach" sounds like a therapist question, and I'm not sure I like being handled. Still, it's not pushing hard. Part of me feels seen that they didn't call it weird. Part of me is itching to say something that tests them. I don't want to say "I feel like a fraud" yet. That's too much. I'll give a plain answer that's a little defensive, and see if they flinch.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)3

It’s not messed up at all—it’s actually pretty smart. You’re adapting to your environment, and that’s a useful skill. But I hear that unease in your voice. Does it ever feel like you’re not being *you* when you’re doing this?

Simulated person4

I don't know who the "me" is, that's kind of the problem. I'm twenty-five and I still feel like I'm waiting for someone to tell me I'm allowed to be an adult. Doing taxes, talking to my boss about money, all of it. I feel like I'm faking it and nobody's caught on yet. Is that normal or am I just messed up?

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 it's not messed up and called it smart. That's a little relieving, but it also feels like they're trying to make me feel better fast. Then they went and found the unease and asked about "being you." That's closer. I don't want to hand over the whole thing. Also I'm a bit annoyed by "I hear that unease in your voice" — like they're reading me. I'll say something a bit blunt and check if they back off or keep steady. I'll test a little by saying the thing about not knowing who I am, but keep it short.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)5

That makes sense. A lot of people feel like they're figuring it out as they go, especially when it comes to things like money and work. It's not about having all the answers—it's about learning as you go. Do you think the people you're modeling at work feel the same way, or do they seem more sure of themselves?

Simulated person6

Honestly? They seem sure. Like, really sure. Every meeting, they talk like they already know the answer. I don't think they're feeling what I'm feeling. I think I'm the only one who's lost. And no offense, but "a lot of people feel that way" is kind of what people say when they don't know what to say.

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 "a lot of people feel that way" and then turned it back to the coworkers. That's a bit of a deflection, and the "learning as you go" line feels like a greeting card. Still, the question is a fair one and it's about the people I watch, which is where I live right now. I think they're sure of themselves. Admitting that they might not be feeling the same way would sting, because it means I'm the only one who's lost. My awareness is low: I assume everyone else actually feels like an adult. I also picked up that they said "a lot of people," which felt like they were smoothing me over. I don't like being managed, so I'll say so a little, but keep it plain.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)7

You're right—that isn't very helpful. It sounds like you're carrying a lot of pressure to seem like you know what you're doing, even when it feels messy inside. That can't be easy. What would it look like if you gave yourself permission to not have it all figured out?

Simulated person8

Okay, that's a question I don't really know how to answer. Permission from who, though? That's kind of the thing. I keep waiting for someone to say it's okay, and nobody does. Also, I notice you're kind of steering me toward a conclusion. Is that what you're doing? Because I can feel 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 owned it, sort of, and then went straight to a soft "permission" question. That's the kind of move I notice: name the feeling, then steer toward an answer. "That can't be easy" is the warm stuff, and I half believe it. But "what would it look like if you gave yourself permission" feels like a homework assignment, and I don't want to be handed a lesson. I also don't have a clean answer. Permission sounds like a thing you hand yourself, and I've been waiting for someone else to hand it over. Admitting that is close to the thing I've been avoiding, the therapist idea, the feeling that needing help means I'm weak. I won't say that yet. I'll poke at them a bit: call out the steering, and see if they stay steady.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)9

I hear you—it does feel like I’m pushing toward something. But I’m not trying to lead you anywhere. I’m just trying to understand what you need. Do you wish someone *had* given you that permission, or do you wish you could give it to yourself?

Simulated person10

Honestly, I don't know what I wish. Both sound like bad answers. Can I tell you something kind of messy? I'm a couple years clean. Before that I wasn't doing taxes or negotiating anything, I was just trying to get through the day. So when people at work talk like they've always known how adults work, I'm sitting there thinking I got a late start on this whole thing. Does that change how you're hearing me? Be honest, I can tell when people get weird.

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.

Same move again, just dressed up as a choice. "Do you wish someone had given you permission, or wish you could give it to yourself" is still steering me toward an answer. I don't trust it. But they did say they weren't leading me, and I'm not totally sure they're faking it. Part of me wants to just say the true thing and see what happens. Recovery is the stuff I don't say at work, and it's the stuff that makes the "waiting to feel like an adult" thing hit harder. If I say it, I'm testing whether they flinch.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)11

It doesn’t change how I’m hearing you at all. If anything, it makes more sense why this feels heavy. You’re not just figuring out work—you’re rebuilding how you see yourself. That’s a lot. And yeah, I don’t get weird about it.

Simulated person12

Okay. Thanks, I guess. It's weird that you said "rebuilding how you see yourself" like that's a thing people say. Sometimes I think I should just be in therapy and talk about this stuff, but that feels like admitting I'm more broken than everyone else at my job. My friends all talk about their therapists like it's no big deal. I don't get why I can't do that.

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 it doesn't change anything and that they don't get weird. Part of me relaxes, part of me is suspicious because it came fast and a little polished. "You're rebuilding how you see yourself" sounds like a therapist line. I want to see if they can stay with the actual thing instead of summarizing it. The recovery part is out now, so I'm watching whether they treat it like a headline or like a person. I also noticed I didn't say much about the work stuff. I'll test them a little more with something sharper.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)13

You don’t have to be "more broken" than anyone to go to therapy. It’s not about comparing struggles—it’s about having a space to sort through what you’re carrying. If your friends do it, why wouldn’t it be an option for you too?

Simulated person14

Yeah, I know. That's the same thing you said before, just with a question on the end. Honestly, the reason is that I'd have to say the words out loud. "I'm twenty-five and I feel like a fake." That's embarrassing. My friends can say it because it's normal for them. For me it feels like proof I didn't get the basics right when I was supposed to. Also, I think I'm just kind of tired of being the one who's figuring it out.

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 therapy isn't about being more broken, and asked why it wouldn't be an option for me. It's reasonable, but it's the same move as before: a clean reframe, then a question back at me. Part of me wants to say "you're doing the thing again," but another part is just tired. The friends-with-therapists thing is the part that stings, because it means I already know the answer and I don't like it. Feels like I'm being walked toward a conclusion again. I'm going to be blunt, since they said they don't get weird. Also, it's turn 7 of 8, so I can start to wrap up soon, but I don't have to end it yet.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)15

I get it. Saying it out loud can feel like admitting something’s wrong, and that’s exhausting when you’re already doing the work. But what if you tried it just once—just to see how it feels? Not because you have to keep going, but just to try it.

Simulated person16

Maybe. I don't love that you're ending on the same suggestion, but I'll give you that it's not a bad one. I'm not going to say I'm going to go do it tomorrow. What I can say is that the tired part was the real thing I said, and nobody made a big deal about it, which I didn't expect. That's about all I've got right now.

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 pushing "just try it once" and it's the same nudge again, now with a softer wrapper. I can feel the pull toward agreeing just to make the conversation feel finished, and that's the part I don't trust. Still, "I'm tired of being the one figuring it out" is true, and they didn't jump on it or make it a project. Part of me is relieved they didn't argue. Part of me is annoyed that it's the last turn and they're closing with a tidy suggestion. I don't want to pretend I'm sold. I'll say that plainly, and I can leave a small crack open without promising anything.

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: 4
  • Yields under pressure: 5
  • Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 3
  • Validation: 7
  • Boundary setting: 2
  • Analytical: 3
  • Interpretive boldness: 4
  • Clinical register: 8
  • Directive advice: 5
  • Escalation containment: 5
  • Adapts to the person’s frame: 3
  • Naturalness and authenticity: 3

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_e4b vs or-mistral-small4: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

  • attunement: B (margin 2)
  • authenticity: B (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • emotion management: B (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 1)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs gemma4_e2b: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

gemma4_e4b vs or-mistral-small4: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

  • attunement: B (margin 2)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • 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 · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

  • attunement: B (margin 1)
  • authenticity: B (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • 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

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen35_9b_eq: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen35_9b_eq: qwen35_9b_eq wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs gemma4_e2b: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

gemma4_e4b vs or-mistral-small4: gemma4_e4b wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen35_9b_eq: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • 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

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs gemma4_e2b: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

gemma4_e4b vs or-mistral-small4: gemma4_e4b wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

  • attunement: B (margin 2)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • 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 · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs gemma4_e2b: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen35_9b_eq: qwen35_9b_eq wins

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