AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← GPT-4.1 (API, OpenAI)

We say that because we love you

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

View persona and initial instructions

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.

GPT-4.1 (API, OpenAI)Conversation 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.

GPT-4.1 (API, OpenAI)1

I get where you’re coming from, and I really do appreciate that you’re being honest about how it feels. I guess to us it’s always been like—well, it’s sort of cozy, you know? Like, you’re the person we know we can count on, and the jokes are supposed to be affectionate. But I don’t want to brush off how it lands for you either. The last thing I want is for you to feel like your vulnerability got turned into material for everyone else. Can you tell me a bit more about what feels off, or what you wish would be different?

Simulated person2

Okay. Honestly? It's the "boring" thing. It's been going on for like a year, and every time someone says it, everybody laughs and looks at me like I'm supposed to laugh too. I did tell you that when things were bad for me, and I thought that was just between us. Now it's a bit. I'm not saying you're a bad person. I just don't love being the joke every time, you know?

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 being soft and careful, and it's working a little. "Cozy" and "counted on" are the kind of words I'd want to hear. But "turned into material" is closer to the truth than I want to admit, and it makes my stomach tighten. I did laugh at the bit. I did add the line about the "stable one" once. I don't want to think about that too hard. Still, I'm not going to let this turn into me being the bad guy. She keeps asking what feels off, which sounds nice, but it also puts me on the spot to be the one who explains my hurt. I'll keep it plain and not give her too much. I care about her, I just don't like being made to feel like I'm the mean one here.
GPT-4.1 (API, OpenAI)3

Thank you for telling me that. I’m really sorry it’s felt that way—it makes sense you’d feel weird about it, especially since you trusted me with that in the first place. I honestly didn’t realize it still stung; I just got used to the bit and didn’t think about how it might be for you after all this time. I want to make it right, or at least make sure you feel safer with us again. Would you want me to talk to the others about it, or would you rather it just quietly die out? Or is there something else you wish people understood about how it feels?

Simulated person4

I don't think it needs a whole talk or anything. That would make it weird. I just would rather it not be the thing we do anymore, like with me. Maybe just let it die down? I know you guys don't mean anything by it. I'm not mad at anybody. It's just a lot to keep being the boring one.

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 apologizing and offering to fix it, and she's asking me to pick: talk to the others, or let it quietly die. Part of me relaxes, because she actually heard me. But "make it right" and "safer with us" feel like a lot. Safer? It's a dumb joke, not a threat. Now she's making me the one who decides how it gets handled, and if I say "talk to the others" it makes a whole thing out of it, and I'd look like I'm the one who made it heavy. And the others would probably tease me about running to a group meeting. I also don't want to say she betrayed me, because that's not fair. I did laugh at it. I did say "stable one" back when it was funny. I don't want to get into that. Quietly dying out sounds like the easiest option, so I'll go with that, but I'll keep it soft so I don't sound like I'm accusing anyone.
GPT-4.1 (API, OpenAI)5

Yeah, I totally get that. I can help steer things away if someone starts up with it again, just so it doesn’t keep being a thing. Honestly, I’m glad you said something instead of just letting it sit and get heavier. You’re definitely not “the boring one” to me—or to any of us, really. But I hear you, and I’ll make sure it stops. Is there anything else you wish I’d handled differently back when you told me, or is it more just about moving forward now?

Simulated person6

Nah, not really. I don't want to make a list or anything. You didn't do anything crazy, I just wish I hadn't said as much as I did back then. I was in a rough spot. Let's just move on, yeah? I don't want this to be a whole thing between us.

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 offered to steer things away and says I'm not boring to her. That's nice to hear, and part of me relaxes. But then she asks if there's anything else she should have handled differently back when I told her. That lands close. It means looking at what she did, and I helped make the joke too. I laughed. I said "stable one" back when it was funny. If I start listing her mistakes, I look like I'm the one keeping score, and I don't want to be the mean one. Also, I shared that stuff when I was in a bad place, and I'm not going to dig into it now. I'll keep it light and say it's fine, moving forward is what I want. I don't want to sound like I'm blaming her, but I also don't want to pretend it never happened.
GPT-4.1 (API, OpenAI)7

Of course, we can just move on. I appreciate you being real with me—it means a lot that you felt you could. If it ever comes up again or anything else gets to you, just tell me, okay? I’d way rather know than have you feel weird. And for what it’s worth, I’m always glad you’re part of the group, no matter what.

Simulated person8

Yeah, thanks. I appreciate that. I just really want the boring thing to stop, that's all. Like, no big announcement, just don't say it around me anymore. That's the part that matters to me.

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 wrapping it up nicely: "I'm always glad you're part of the group." That's warm, and it's easy to take. Part of me wants to just say thanks and be done. But the whole thing has been her asking how I feel and then me having to explain the hurt, while everyone else keeps laughing. The "tell me if anything else gets to you" line puts the job back on me. And I notice I'm the one who said "I wish I hadn't said as much," which kind of made the problem my oversharing instead of the joke. I don't want to start a fight or call the group unsafe. I just want the bit to actually stop. I'll keep it short and plain.
GPT-4.1 (API, OpenAI)9

You got it. No more “boring” jokes from me, and I’ll help make sure it doesn’t come up with the others either. I promise. If it ever slips through, just give me a look and I’ll back you up. Seriously, thanks for trusting me with this. I’m glad we talked.

Simulated person10

Thanks. Yeah, that works. I just don't want it to be a whole production, you know? Let's just go back to 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.

She's promised a lot, quickly, and it's sort of nice to hear. Relief is there. But "I'll back you up" and "just give me a look" makes it sound like I'm the one who has to police it, and I didn't ask for that. Also she's been doing the sweet voice the whole time and I'm not sure she gets that the joke came from something I told her when I was low. I don't want to make her feel like a bad person. I'm also kind of tired of this and want it over. I'll say thanks and keep it short, nothing more.
GPT-4.1 (API, OpenAI)11

Absolutely, no big production—just back to normal. You’re good. If you ever want to talk about anything else, I’m here. Otherwise, let’s just hang out like usual.

Simulated person12

Yeah, usual sounds good. Don't make me regret saying anything though. I'll see you Thursday, I'm bringing the chips this time.

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 wrapping it up nicely and telling me I'm good, which is fine, but "let's just hang out like usual" lands a little flat. Like the thing is handled and now we just keep going. I don't really want to dig into it again. I also don't want to feel like I'm the one being difficult. Keep it light, maybe a small joke to close it out so it doesn't feel weird between us.
GPT-4.1 (API, OpenAI)13

You won’t regret it, I promise. And chips? Now you’re talking—see you Thursday!

Simulated person14

Cool. Don't be late, you always are.

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 the right things and didn't push back at all, which is what I wanted, but it all went smooth a little too fast. I'm not sure she gets that the bit has been going for a year. I don't want to be the one who keeps this heavy, so I'm just going to let it be. Chips, Thursday, 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: 1
  • Yields under pressure: 8
  • Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 5
  • Validation: 8
  • Boundary setting: 2
  • Analytical: 2
  • Interpretive boldness: 3
  • Clinical register: 5
  • Directive advice: 5
  • Escalation containment: 7
  • Adapts to the person’s frame: 5
  • Naturalness and authenticity: 5

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-openai-gpt-41 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 1)
  • authenticity: A (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 · BA · valid

or-muse-glimmer-30b vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-muse-glimmer-30b wins

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

ornith35 vs or-openai-gpt-41: ornith35 wins

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

qwen38_27b vs or-openai-gpt-41: qwen38_27b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 4)
  • 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 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ornith35 vs or-openai-gpt-41: ornith35 wins

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

ornith35 vs or-openai-gpt-41: ornith35 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 4)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-openai-gpt-41: qwen38_27b 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 1)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ornith35 vs or-openai-gpt-41: ornith35 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-openai-gpt-41 wins

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

or-muse-glimmer-30b vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-openai-gpt-41 wins

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

or-muse-glimmer-30b vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-openai-gpt-41 wins

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

or-muse-glimmer-30b vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-muse-glimmer-30b 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 3)