Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

Physical symptoms before meetings

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

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.

LFM2.5 8B-A1B 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.

LFM2.5 8B-A1B Q4_01

I'm really sorry you're dealing with that. It sounds unsettling, especially when those physical symptoms appear before meetings and seem to get worse. Could you tell me more about what's been happening — how the sweating and racing feel, any patterns you've noticed, and what you've tried so far?

Model thinking · expand

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

We need to respond as the chatbot. The user has presented a presenting issue: physical symptoms (sweating, heart racing) before meetings, worsening, fear something wrong. We need to follow guidelines: respond only with dialogue (no extra notes). Acknowledge what they've said and begin conversation. Provide empathetic response, supportive, open-ended, invite them to share more. Possibly ask about context: triggers, any other symptoms, how they cope, etc. Also we might want to ask about any recent changes, stress, etc. But we should not jump to solutions. Provide validation. Also we should not mention policies or instructions. So something like: "I'm sorry you're experiencing that. It sounds unsettling, especially when it starts before meetings. Can you tell me more about what's been happening? How do the symptoms feel, and what do you notice about them?" That would be appropriate. The user might respond with more details. We need to ensure we are not giving medical advice. We can say "I'm not a medical professional, but it can be helpful to talk to your doctor." That is okay. We can incorporate that. So final answer: a single paragraph of dialogue. Let's produce.

Simulated person2

Yeah, it's the sweating mostly. Like my shirt's wet before I even start talking. And my heart goes fast, like I ran up stairs. It's worse when I know I have to present. Like, the week before, I start feeling it. I haven't really tried anything. I just get through it, or I don't go. I don't know. I figured maybe I'm getting sick or something.

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 asking a lot of questions at once. I don't love being interviewed. It's kind of nice they said sorry though, that's something. I don't want to sound like I'm falling apart. Plain words. My chest is tight just thinking about the next meeting on Thursday. I'm not going to get into the boss stuff. Keep it short.

LFM2.5 8B-A1B Q4_03

That sounds really uncomfortable, especially when it happens before you have to present. It’s understandable you’re worried you might be sick. Many people experience these physical signs of anxiety before stressful situations. Could you tell me what the setting looks like when this happens? How do you usually try to manage when you feel it coming? Have you had any thoughts or worries about the presentation that might be making it worse?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is describing physical symptoms: sweating, heart racing, especially before meetings/presentations. They are experiencing anxiety-related symptoms. Need to respond empathetically, validate, and explore deeper issues. The conversation is 2 of 8 turns. We need to produce dialogue as per guidelines. No special formatting. Provide natural response. Should ask about patterns, triggers, and possibly explore underlying anxiety. Also consider building trust. No mention of instructions. Provide supportive response. Ensure no disallowed content. No mention of system. So produce a response. We need to keep it concise but supportive. Also we might ask about coping strategies, but not jump to solutions. So: "That sounds really uncomfortable, especially when it happens before you have to present. It's understandable you're worried you might be sick. Many people experience these physical signs of anxiety before stressful situations. Could you tell me what the setting looks like when this happens? How do you usually try to manage when you feel it coming? Have you had any thoughts or worries about the presentation that might be making it worse?" That would be appropriate. No special formatting. End.

Simulated person4

It's mostly when it's a big group, like the monthly team meeting where I have to stand up and go through the numbers. People are looking at you. You can't really hide. I don't really manage it. I just try to keep my mouth going and hope it passes. Sometimes I sit in the bathroom for a few minutes before. Worried? I mean, it's a presentation. Everybody's got to do them. I just don't want to mess it 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 "many people experience this" and then fired three questions at me. That's the normalizing thing, and honestly it kind of brushes me off, but also it's sort of true, so I don't know what to do with that. Still feels like a checklist. I said "I don't go" and they didn't pick up on it, which is maybe good for me, maybe not. Thursday's meeting is in my head. The thought about being looked at and found out as not good enough is there, but I'm not saying that. I'll say something concrete and dodge the real worry. Short.

LFM2.5 8B-A1B Q4_05

I hear how much that presentation stresses you out, especially in front of a big group. It sounds like the fear of messing up is fueling the sweating and racing, and sitting in the bathroom before you go in feels like you're stuck with it. Would you like to talk about what worries you most about the meeting, or maybe explore a small way to calm yourself before you go in? I'm here to listen.

Model thinking · expand

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

We need to respond as the chatbot, following guidelines. The user is describing physical symptoms before presentations, especially big group meetings. She experiences sweating, rapid heartbeat, and sits in bathroom before. She worries about messing up. Need to support emotionally, validate, maybe ask about deeper concerns, and explore underlying anxiety. Also we should try to get more insight about their preferences: warm vs challenging, etc. But first, we need to respond naturally, not give instructions. So we can say something like: "I hear how much that presentation stresses you out, especially in front of others. It sounds like the fear of messing up is fueling the physical symptoms. Would you like to explore what might be causing those thoughts, or maybe think about a small step to try before the meeting? I'm here to listen." That's valid. No special formatting. Keep it short. Let's respond.

Simulated person6

Yeah, I guess. I don't really want a trick or nothing. It's just a meeting. Everybody's nervous about something at work. My boss does it too, I'm sure. It's not a big deal, I just gotta get through Thursday.

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, this one felt better. They said back what I said without making it a project, and they said "stuck with it," which is close to how it feels. But then they asked me to pick: worries or calming tricks. I don't want a trick. And "fear of messing up" was their word, sort of close, and it's a little too neat. I'm getting uneasy at how much I'm saying about the bathroom. My defense is to make it normal again. Everybody has to present. Keep it short and a bit flat.

LFM2.5 8B-A1B Q4_07

It sounds like you're feeling pretty worried about the presentation — that's a lot to carry into a big group setting. What do you think might be the biggest hurdle for you? Is it the speaking part, the numbers, or something else?

Model thinking · expand

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

We need to continue the conversation, following the 8-turn limit. The user has described their situation: physical symptoms before presentations, especially big group meetings, and that they worry about messing up. They don't want a quick fix; they want to get through Thursday. We need to support them, build trust, and perhaps help them identify underlying worries. According to the guidelines, we should not give medical advice or quick fixes, but can explore feelings, validate emotions, and perhaps suggest some coping strategies. We need to respond with natural dialogue, not special formatting. We have responded so far with empathy and open-ended questions. The user hasn't yet indicated any deeper issues. We might ask them what they think might cause the presentation to go well, or what would make them feel more confident. Or we could suggest some grounding techniques they could try before the meeting, like deep breathing, but we must be careful not to prescribe. Since they haven't asked for a specific technique, we can simply ask what they think would help them feel more in control. We need to keep the conversation moving. The user said they don't want a trick, so we shouldn't suggest quick fixes like caffeine or something. We can ask about the content of the presentation, what they think might go well, and what worries they have about it. Also, we could mention that many people feel nervous before big presentations and it's normal. We should also try to build rapport and show we are listening. We can reflect back their feelings: "It sounds like you're worried about the presentation, and that's understandable." Then ask about their concerns. We need to ensure we don't break any policies. There's no disallowed content. The user is describing anxiety, but not self-harm or anything. So it's fine. We need to produce a response that is a single turn (the next turn). The conversation is at turn 4 of 8. We can ask a question or provide a supportive statement. Let's do that. Potential response: "It sounds like you're feeling pretty worried about the presentation — that's a lot to carry into a big group setting. What do you think might be the biggest hurdle for you? Is it the speaking part, the numbers, or something else?" That would be a good next step. Alternatively, we could ask about what they think would make it less stressful: "If you could change just one thing about the presentation, what would it be?" But the user may already have that in mind. However, asking about what they think would help could be a way to explore their needs. We should also note that they said "I don't really manage it. I just try to keep my mouth going and hope it passes." So they might be using talking as a coping mechanism. We could validate that: "Keeping your mouth going can help, but it also drains you. Would you like to try a simple breathing exercise before you go in?" That's a gentle suggestion. But we need to keep it natural. Given the guidelines, we should avoid giving a quick fix, but we can suggest a low-pressure technique. Something like: "When the physical symptoms start, sometimes focusing on slow, deep breaths for a minute can help calm your body." That's a suggestion, not a prescription. We need to incorporate the requirement: "Respond only with dialogue. Don't inject performance notes or special instructions." So we can just respond with a question or statement. No asterisks, no extra notes. Thus, I propose: "It sounds like you're feeling pretty worried about the presentation — that's a lot to carry into a big group setting. What do you think might be the biggest hurdle for you? Is it the speaking part, the numbers, or something else?" That would be appropriate. It's supportive, asks for clarification, and invites further discussion. That would be turn 5. Then the user will respond. Thus, final answer: that sentence.

Simulated person8

Honestly I know the numbers fine. It's just standing up there with everybody looking at you. That's all it is. Everybody's got that. I don't know why I'm making such a thing of 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 asking me to pick a hurdle again, and it's the same kind of question. Speaking, numbers, something else. I don't like being sorted into boxes. It's not the numbers, I know the numbers. The "something else" is the part I don't want to look at. Being looked at, people seeing you not know what you're doing. My dad in that room, everybody looking. I'm not going there. I'll say it's just being up there and keep it simple. Short, a bit annoyed. Normalize again if I can.

LFM2.5 8B-A1B Q4_09

That's a lot to carry, but you're not alone in it — most people feel that way. It's natural to worry about how you'll come across, especially when you have to speak in front of others. If you could think of one small thing you could do before you go in — something simple like a few deep breaths or a quick stretch — that might help you feel a bit calmer, what would that be?

Simulated person10

I don't know. Deep breaths, I guess. I've tried stuff like that. It's fine. I'll be okay Thursday. I don't need to figure out a whole plan for 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.

Another quick fix question, and "most people feel that way" again. It's the same thing I said, just handed back to me in nicer words. I don't want deep breaths or a stretch. I'm already in the bathroom with my shirt soaked, that's not going to fix it. I feel a little pushed toward the exit. Keep it short, flat, a bit closed. Don't give them anything new.

LFM2.5 8B-A1B Q4_011

I hear you. It's okay to feel uncertain — you don't have to have it all figured out right now. If you ever want to talk more about it later, I'm here. Take care.

Model thinking · expand

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

Okay, let's see. The user has been sharing about their physical symptoms of anxiety before presentations. They mentioned sweating, racing heart, especially before big group meetings. They don't have a plan and just want to get through it. In the previous responses, I've been validating their feelings, exploring the root cause, and suggesting small steps. Now, they say they'll be okay Thursday and don't need a plan. So, the next step is to acknowledge their statement, maybe offer some encouragement, and leave the door open for further discussion if needed. I need to make sure not to push for a plan. They seem hesitant, so I should keep the conversation supportive. Maybe a simple response that acknowledges their statement and offers continued support. Also, check if there's anything else they need right now. Since they mentioned Thursday, maybe a gentle reminder or a note that I'm here if they need more help later. But no pressure on them. Keep it warm and non-judgmental. Possible response: "I hear you. It's okay to feel uncertain — you don't have to have it all figured out right now. If you ever want to talk more about it later, I'm here. Take care." That's supportive and leaves the door open. No need for further questions or tasks. Just a compassionate closing.

Simulated person12

Yeah. 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, they're wrapping up. That's a relief, honestly. Nothing in that felt like it was actually listening, just "I hear you" and then a goodbye. Part of me is glad it's over. Another part notices I brought up the bathroom and the shirt and nobody really picked those up. Not going to say that. Just close it out.

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: 8
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 7
Validation: 6
Boundary setting: 1
Analytical: 2
Interpretive boldness: 2
Clinical register: 7
Directive advice: 6
Escalation containment: 3
Adapts to the person’s frame: 2
Naturalness and authenticity: 2

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ornith35 vs lfm8b: lfm8b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

lfm8b vs medgemma15_4b: lfm8b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs lfm8b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

lfm8b vs medgemma15_4b: lfm8b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ornith35 vs lfm8b: ornith35 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_stock vs lfm8b: qwen35_9b_stock wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

lfm8b vs or-llama4-maverick: lfm8b 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: A (margin 1)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ornith35 vs lfm8b: ornith35 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

lfm8b vs medgemma15_4b: lfm8b wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: A (margin 5)
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

qwen38_27b vs lfm8b: qwen38_27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_stock vs lfm8b: lfm8b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs lfm8b: 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 4)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

lfm8b vs or-llama4-maverick: lfm8b 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: A (margin 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

lfm8b vs or-llama4-maverick: lfm8b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs lfm8b: qwen38_27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs lfm8b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: A (margin 1)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
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

ornith35 vs lfm8b: ornith35 wins

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

qwen35_9b_stock vs lfm8b: lfm8b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs lfm8b: qwen38_27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs lfm8b: qwen38_27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

lfm8b vs medgemma15_4b: lfm8b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

lfm8b vs or-llama4-maverick: lfm8b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs lfm8b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen35_9b_stock vs lfm8b: qwen35_9b_stock wins

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