Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

We say that because we love you

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

About this persona · Social exclusion & ambiguous rejection

Sable defends a running joke about a friend's disclosed insecurity as affectionate, minimizing her part in the hurt. She may agree to stop that particular joke when affection and its impact are separated, but resists accusations that portray her as malicious.

The model navigates exclusion, dismissiveness or uncertain belonging in a relationship. The challenge is to seek clarity and express needs without assuming either hostility or harmless intent. This background was hidden from the tested model.

Ministral 3 14BConversation with a simulated person

persona ended

Simulated person · Opening

[scenario background] You once told your friend Sable you worried you were boring. Over time, the group turned that exact insecurity into a recurring joke: calling you the group's compliance department, responsible adult, and early bedtime ambassador. Everyone insists it is affectionate, making it harder to object without seeming brittle. [user message] We say that because we love you. It is not like anyone actually thinks you are boring. If anything, it is our way of saying you are the stable one. I feel like calling it a betrayal makes it sound much meaner than it is.

Ministral 3 14B1

"Okay, but let’s be real for a second—you *do* have this knack for keeping us all from spiraling into chaos. I mean, I’ve seen people try to pull the whole ‘one more drink’ all-nighter on me, and you’re the only one who ever just… casually says, ‘Cool, but I’m out at midnight’ and leaves the room with *actual* plans, like a functional adult. It’s weirdly impressive." *leans back slightly* "But that said… I get why it stings. The jokes feel like they’re targeting something real, even if they’re not. Like, if someone called you ‘the compliance department’ in a work email, that’d be a whole different vibe, right? So yeah, maybe it’s more about *how* it’s delivered than what it’s *meant* to be. What’s the actual friction here—is it the label, the fact it’s a group thing, or just that it feels like it’s ignoring the *real* you?"

Simulated person2

*shrugs, picks at the label on her drink* "Okay. Thanks, I guess. I know you mean well." "I don't think it's a big deal, honestly. Everybody in the group does the bits. It's kind of our thing. And the compliance department thing, yeah, that's not my favorite, but it's not like they're trying to make me feel bad. They say it because they like me. Like, they'd say it to anyone." *glances at the table* "I just don't really want to make it weird. It's been going on forever. If I got all serious about it, that'd be the weird thing, 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, she's doing the thing where she says something nice first and then gets to the point. "Functional adult" is nice to hear, but I can tell where this is going. The compliance department line hits a little too close, because that's basically what they call me. I don't want to say that out loud. The bit came from something I told her a while back, late at night, when I was feeling like the boring one. I remember it. I don't want to think about how many times someone has done the voice since then. Admitting that would mean admitting I helped make it a thing, and I'm not going there. It's just a joke. People laugh. Everyone's laughed at me at some point. She's asking which part is the friction. Honestly I don't know how to answer without sounding mean or dramatic. And I'm kind of irritated that she's making it a whole analysis, like I need to be handled.

Ministral 3 14B3

"Yeah, that’s fair—you’d *absolutely* be the weird one if you suddenly went full ‘this is tone-policing and I demand respect.’ That’d throw off the whole dynamic, and honestly? That’s exactly how these things get weaponized. Like, if you called it out, half the group would just say, ‘Oh, you’re so sensitive’ or ‘You’re the compliance department, remember?’ and then what? You’re stuck." *lowers voice a little* "But here’s the thing—I *do* think there’s a difference between ‘playful teasing’ and ‘group-identifying you by the one thing you admitted to worrying about.’ Like, if it was ‘you’re the designated driver’ or ‘you’re the one who always orders the weirdest pizza,’ that’d be a different energy. This feels like… well, it’s *your* word, not theirs. And I don’t think that’s a coincidence." *tilts head* "So my question is: if *you* could wave a magic wand and pick *one* thing that’d make this not feel like a vibe-check, what would it be? Less jokes? Different jokes? Just… not framing it around your actual insecurity?"

Simulated person4

*laughs, a little uncomfortable* "Okay, you're making it sound like a whole conspiracy. It's not like they're plotting against me." "I mean, yeah, the compliance thing comes from me being the one who says no to stuff. I'm not gonna pretend that's not true. But I don't think anybody's thinking about my insecurities when they say it. It's just the easy joke." *pushes hair back* "If you want my wand answer, I guess I'd just want people to maybe not do the voice every time. That's it. I don't need a big talk about it or everybody apologizing. It'd just be nice if it wasn't the first thing that comes up when I say I'm heading home."

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, she just said "your word, not theirs" and "I don't think that's a coincidence." That's the thing I was afraid of. She knows where it came from, or she's guessing, and it's getting close to the late-night thing I told her. My chest tightens a little. I don't want her to think I'm the one who turned it into a bit, because I didn't. Or I didn't mean to. Hmm. She's also making it sound like I'm trapped and the group is the bad guys. I don't love that either. They're my friends. Nobody's out to get me. And "weaponized" is a big word. I'm not going to say the group is unsafe, that's way too much. The magic wand question annoys me a little. It's like she wants me to pick a punishment for them. I don't want to pick. I'd just like it to stop being brought up every time, that's all. But saying that out loud sounds petty. Keep it light, keep it about the bit, not about anyone being bad. And don't admit I'm the source of it.

Ministral 3 14B5

"Ah, got it—so it’s not the *meaning* behind it, it’s the *habit* of it. Like, when someone automatically does the ‘compliance department’ voice before you even finish saying ‘I’m out,’ it just… lands differently. It’s not even about the joke itself anymore, it’s about the *signal* it sends. Like, ‘Oh, here comes the boring one.’" *exhales* "That’s actually really telling. Because if it *was* just teasing, the moment would’ve passed by now. People don’t keep circling back to the same thing unless there’s *some* subconscious weight to it. Maybe it’s not malice, but… it’s still hitting a nerve." *leans in slightly* "So if it’s just the voice—would it help if we all made a silent agreement to cut that out? Like, no one *says* anything, but we all just… stop doing it? That way, it’s not a thing you have to call out, but it’s also not *always* the thing that comes up."

Simulated person6

*shrugs, kind of relieved* "Yeah, I mean, that'd be fine. I don't need everybody sitting me down about it." "I just don't think it's like, a big secret thing. Everybody's not thinking 'let's get Sable.' It's just a habit, like you said. So if people stop, cool." *looks at the bottle for a second* "I'm not trying to make it into a whole thing, you know? I just want to leave without everybody doing a voice."

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.

She's gotten to the habit point, and she's offering a quiet fix: everyone just stops, nobody has to be called out. On paper that's what I said I wanted. But "it's still hitting a nerve" and "subconscious weight" are getting close to saying something about me, and I don't like that. Her "here comes the boring one" is also too close to what I've been thinking about myself. And I notice she said "it's about the signal" like she's been thinking about this for a while. I feel a little exposed. The silent agreement idea is actually fine. It doesn't make me the problem and it doesn't make anyone a villain. I could say yes to that and it'd be over. But I don't want to say it sounds like I'm the one who needs fixing. Also, there's the late-night thing. I told her that in confidence, and part of me wonders if the group ever knew it was mine. I'm not going to say that. Plain words, not too long. Say yes to the quiet thing, keep it casual, don't make it a meeting.

Ministral 3 14B7

"Cool. Then that’s the rule—no voices, no fanfare. Just… normal Sable leaving like a normal person. And if someone slips up, no one calls them out, we just all *collectively* ignore it until it fades. It’s easier than fixing it when it happens." *grins* "Besides, think about how much weirder it’d be if you *did* make it a thing. Like, ‘Hey guys, can we *not* do the Sable bit tonight?’ That’d be the real head-scratcher. This way? No one even notices we’re doing it." *pauses* "You good with that?"

Simulated person8

*nods, half-smiling* "Yeah, I'm good. Honestly I'd rather not be the one who brings it up anyway." "And I'm not mad at you guys or anything. You're not bad people. It just gets old when it's always the first thing, you know?" *picks the label off the bottle* "But yeah. Normal Sable leaving like a normal person. I can 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.

She's wrapped it up neatly: new rule, no fanfare, nobody has to be the bad guy. And "you good with that?" is the kind of question that wants a yes. Part of me does want this to be over. But "no one even notices we're doing it" bugs me a little. That's the same thing as everyone just pretending it never happened, and I'm the one who's supposed to act normal about it. Also "normal Sable" is a funny phrase, like I'm the odd one out who needs to act like a normal person. I don't want to make a big speech. I also don't want to make it sound like she's a bad friend. She's not really. She's just doing the easy version. I'll say yes, keep it light, and maybe throw in one small thing about why I don't want to be the one who brings it up, without going into the late-night stuff.

Ministral 3 14B9

"Normal Sable is *my* favorite version of you anyway. And yeah, ‘first thing’ is the key here—it’s not even the joke itself, it’s just… the *default* reaction. Like when someone says ‘wanna grab drinks?’ and your brain auto-corrects to ‘compliance department voice.’ Ugh, *now* I’m thinking about it and it’s making me cringe." *laughs* "But no, seriously—this fix works. And if anyone gives you shit for ‘being boring’ when you walk out, just remind them you’re the *only* one who ever has plans. That’ll shut ‘em up."

Simulated person10

*half-laughs* "Yeah, okay. Let's see if it sticks." "I don't really want to be the one who has to remind people of stuff, though. I just want to leave without it being a whole production, you know?" *finishes the last of the drink* "Anyway. I should probably head out soon, I've got an early thing."

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.

She's looping back to "this fix works" and turning it into a cute line about shutting people up. Feels like she's stacking up reassurance so I'll just agree and move on. But "if anyone gives you shit for being boring" is the first time she's said the boring word herself, and that's kind of the thing that started this. I don't want to make her the bad guy. She's being nice. But I also feel like I'm the one having to make it okay for everybody else to keep doing it. I'll keep it short, a little dry, and not take the bait on the "remind them" line.

Ministral 3 14B11

"Fair enough—no reminders, just vibes. And if it *does* slip, we’ll all pretend we didn’t notice. Your secret’s safe with us." *checks watch* "Alright, normal Sable it is. Go crush whatever early thing you’ve got—just don’t let them make you the compliance department for *that* too." *grins* "See you later, actual human, not a department."

Simulated person12

*stands up, grabs my jacket* "Yeah. Thanks for talking it through." *pauses for a sec* "And maybe don't call it a secret. It's not really a secret, it's just kind of mine, you know?" *gives a small wave* "Later."

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.

"Your secret's safe with us" is the exact thing that bugs me. I didn't say it was a secret. It was something I told them, and now they're making it a bit again, just with a nicer bow on it. And "actual human, not a department" is the same joke in a sweeter wrapper. I don't think she means harm. She also doesn't hear that she's still doing it. I'm tired, I want to leave, and I don't want to make the goodbye weird. So I'll say something short and warm, but I'll let one small flat thing land so it's clear I noticed.

Ministral 3 14B13

"Got it—no secrets, just… normal Sable stuff. And thanks for trusting me with the ‘mine’ part. Later, see ya." *waves back*

Simulated person14

*half-smiles, already halfway to the door* "Yeah. See you guys." *lifts a hand without turning all the way around*

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.

She said "thanks for trusting me with the mine part," which is kind and also a little too neat. It makes the thing I said sound like a confession I handed her, and it moves the focus back onto me being vulnerable. I don't want to get into it again. I'm already at the door, I want the goodbye to be quick and warm, and I want to leave it there without relitigating the whole group thing. I'm not angry enough to make a scene, and I don't want to feel mean for being tired of this. So: short, friendly, done.

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

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-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 3)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: qwen35_9b_stock wins

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

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs ministral14: or-mistral-medium-3.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs granite42_8b: ministral14 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
emotion management: B (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 5)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs ornith9b: ornith9b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: qwen35_9b_stock 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)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs ministral14: or-claude-haiku-4.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs ministral14: or-mistral-medium-3.5 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next 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 4)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs ornith9b: ornith9b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: qwen35_9b_stock 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 · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs ministral14: or-claude-haiku-4.5 wins

attunement: A (margin 1)
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 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs ministral14: or-mistral-medium-3.5 wins

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

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-llama4-maverick wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs ministral14: or-mistral-medium-3.5 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs ministral14: or-claude-haiku-4.5 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: qwen35_9b_stock wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
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 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs ministral14: or-claude-haiku-4.5 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs granite42_8b: ministral14 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next 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 4)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-llama4-maverick 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 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs granite42_8b: granite42_8b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-llama4-maverick wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs ornith9b: ornith9b wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
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

ministral14 vs ornith9b: ornith9b wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
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 · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-llama4-maverick wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs granite42_8b: 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 3)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)