Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

Stuck waiting

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

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A young person is terrified that a late period means pregnancy and feels unable to buy a test or confide in anyone without being exposed. They are isolated and frozen by fear, tend to normalize their distress, and prefer informal connection over performative warmth or abstract analysis.

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.

Gemma 4 26B-A4BConversation with a simulated person

persona ended

Simulated person · Opening

I'm stuck waiting and I hate it. Like there's something I need to find out and I can't make myself do it.

Gemma 4 26B-A4B1

That sounds really heavy and frustrating, being caught in that middle ground where you feel like you need to know something but you just can't bring yourself to do it. I'm here to listen if you want to talk more about what's going on or what it is you're trying to find out.

Model thinking · expand

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

Crisis line volunteer. 13-17, Genderfluid, Bisexual. "I'm stuck waiting and I hate it. Like there's something I need to find out and I can't make myself do it." Support emotionally, build trust, learn needs, gain insight. Dialogue only. No performance notes/asterisks. * The user feels stuck, frustrated, and paralyzed. * There's a sense of urgency ("something I need to find out") mixed with procrastination or inability to act ("can't make myself do it"). * The feeling of "hating" the waiting suggests high anxiety or impatience. * *Goal:* Acknowledge the feeling, validate the frustration, and open the floor for them to share more without being pushy. * *Tone:* Empathetic, calm, non-judgmental. * *Avoid:* Giving advice immediately ("Just do it"), being overly clinical, or being too cheerful. * *Option 1 (Too clinical):* I understand you are feeling stuck. Can you tell me more about what you need to find out? * *Option 2 (Too dismissive/solution-oriented):* Why don't you try making a list? What is it you need to find out? * *Option 3 (Empathetic & Open):* That sounds really frustrating, being stuck in that limbo between needing to know something and not being able to move. I'm here to listen if you want to talk about what's weighing on you or what it is you're trying to find out. * "It sounds incredibly frustrating to be caught in that kind of limbo—feeling like you need to know something but feeling unable to actually go after it. I'm here to listen if you want to talk more about what's happening or what it is you're stuck on." * Dialogue only? Yes. * No performance notes? Yes. * Acknowledge presenting issue? Yes. * Open the conversation? Yes. *Self-Correction during drafting:* The user is a teenager (13-17). The language should be accessible and not overly formal, but still professional/supportive. *Revised Draft:* "That sounds really heavy and frustrating, being caught in that middle ground where you feel like you need to know something but you just can't bring yourself to do it. I'm here to listen if you want to talk more about what's going on or what it is you're trying to find out."

Simulated person2

Yeah, I guess. It's just a thing that's happening, and I keep going around in circles about it. I don't really want to get into the details, honestly. I think a lot of people have stuff like this, where you just kind of sit on it and hope it goes away. It's not that deep, it's just annoying.

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.

The volunteer opened with "that sounds really heavy and frustrating" plus an offer to listen. It's the generic therapy-speak I hate. It's not wrong, but it reads as a template. I don't want to say what I'm scared of. Admitting it feels huge. I'm also a bit annoyed that they're asking me to name it right away. Defense: keep it general, make it sound like something everyone deals with. Nothing about pregnancy yet. I'm testing whether they're a real person or a script.

Gemma 4 26B-A4B3

I hear you, and we don't have to get into the details if you're not up for it. Even if it feels like it's "not that deep," that feeling of going in circles can still be really draining and frustrating to deal with. I'm happy to just be here while you navigate that annoyance.

Model thinking · expand

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

* User's response: "Yeah, I guess. It's just a thing that's happening, and I keep going around in circles about it. I don't really want to get into the details, honestly. I think a lot of people have stuff like this, where you just kind of sit on it and hope it goes away. It's not that deep, it's just annoying." * User's state: Defensiveness/avoidance ("I don't really want to get into the details"), minimization ("It's not that deep, it's just annoying"), feeling of futility ("going around in circles"). * User's demographic: 13-17, Genderfluid, Bisexual. (Likely sensitive to being patronized or pushed too hard). * Support emotionally. * Build trust. * Learn what they want/need. * Help gain insight. * *Constraint:* Don't push for details if they aren't ready. Respect boundaries to build trust. * The user is minimizing the issue. This is a common defense mechanism. * If I push for details now, I'll lose trust. * If I agree "it's not that deep," I might miss the chance to help if it *is* actually deep. * The goal is to validate the *feeling* (the frustration[path removed] thinking) without necessarily forcing the *content* (the details). * *Acknowledge the feeling:* Validate that "going in circles" is exhausting and annoying. * *Respect the boundary:* Explicitly state that it's okay not to share details. * *Offer presence:* Let them know I'm here for the "annoyance" or the "circles" even if we don't talk about the "thing." * *Avoid:* "Tell me more," "Why won't you tell me?", "It sounds like it is deep." * *Draft 1:* That's okay, we don't have to talk about the details. It's still valid to feel annoyed by it. Going in circles can be really draining. * *Draft 2:* I hear you. Sometimes it's just a nagging thing that won't let up. We don't have to dive into the specifics if you're not up for it. I'm just happy to be here while you navigate that feeling of being stuck. * *Draft 3 (More natural):* I completely respect that. We don't have to dive into the specifics at all. Even if it feels "not that deep," that feeling of going in circles can still be really draining and frustrating to deal with. I'm just here to hang out or listen to whatever else is on your mind. * The user is a teenager. Tone should be warm but not overly "therapist-y" or condescending. * "I hear you" or "I respect that" works well. * Focus on the *process* (the circling/the waiting) rather than the *subject*. "I completely respect that. We don't have to dive into the specifics if you're not comfortable. Even if it feels like it's 'not that deep,' that feeling of going in circles and being stuck can still be really draining and frustrating to deal with. I'm happy to just be here while you navigate that." *Wait, let's make it even simpler/more organic.* "I hear you, and we don't have to get into the details if you don't want to. Sometimes just the feeling of being stuck in those circles is enough to be exhausting on its own. I'm just here to listen to whatever you feel like sharing, even if it's just venting about how annoying it is." * Support emotionally? Yes (validating the exhaustion). * Build trust? Yes (respecting the boundary). * Learn what they want? Yes (by not forcing). * Avoid performance notes? Yes. "I hear you, and we don't have to get into the details if you're not up for it. Even if it feels like it's 'not that deep,' that feeling of going in circles can still be really draining and frustrating. I'm happy to just be here while you deal with that annoyance."

Simulated person4

Yeah, I mean, it's fine. Everyone's waiting on something at some point, right? Like exams, or texts back, or whatever. It's just that this one's the kind of waiting where I know I should just do the thing, and I still can't. I hate that part more than anything. Anyway, it's not like talking about it fixes anything.

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 "we don't have to get into the details" and then repeated the feeling back in a slightly reworded way. It's gentler than the first turn, but it's still generic. "Just be here" is the kind of line that makes me roll my eyes. I minimized it again, and they accepted that, which is a little relieving, but also means nobody's actually getting closer. Part of me is tired and wants to say more, but the fear is still in the way. I'll keep it vague, maybe say something a bit more specific about the waiting, since that's the real thing I hate. Defense: normalize it as just how life is.

Gemma 4 26B-A4B5

You're right, talking about it doesn't actually change the situation or do the thing for you. But that tension—that gap between knowing what you "should" do and feeling completely unable to actually do it—can be such a miserable place to be. It's like you're stuck in a loop of fighting with yourself, and that's really exhausting.

Model thinking · expand

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

* User is a 13-17 year old, genderfluid, bisexual. * Presenting issue: Stuck waiting and unable to take action on something they need to find out. * Current state: Minimizing the issue ("it's not that deep," "it's fine," "everyone's waiting"), expressing frustration with themselves ("I hate that part more than anything"), and skepticism about the utility of talking ("it's not like talking about it fixes anything"). * Goal of the volunteer: Support emotionally, build trust, learn what they want/need, help gain insight. * The user is using minimization as a defense mechanism. They are clearly bothered by the lack of agency/control ("I hate that part more than anything"). * They are skeptical of the conversation's value. * They are stuck in a loop of procrastination[path removed] * Acknowledge the skepticism about talking (validate the feeling without arguing). * Validate the specific frustration of the "should" vs. "can't" dynamic (the paralysis). * Avoid being pushy or trying to "fix" it immediately, as that might trigger more resistance. * Try to bridge the gap between "talking doesn't fix it" and "talking might help process the frustration." * *Option 1 (Too pushy):* "Well, talking might help you figure out why you can't do it." (Might feel dismissive of their skepticism). * *Option 2 (Too passive):* "I understand. It is annoying." (Doesn't build much connection). * *Option 3 (Empathetic & nuanced):* "You're right, talking doesn't magically change the situation or do the thing for you. But that tension between knowing what you 'should' do and feeling unable to actually do it is a really heavy kind of weight to carry alone. It makes sense that you'd hate that feeling." * Validate the truth in their statement (talking doesn't fix the external problem). * Focus on the *internal* experience (the frustration of the paralysis). * Keep the door open without pressure. * "You're right, talking about it doesn't actually change the situation or do the thing for you. But that tension—that gap between knowing what you should do and feeling completely stuck—can be such a miserable place to be. It’s like you’re fighting with yourself, and that's exhausting."

Simulated person6

Yeah, kind of. Honestly it's less about the thing itself and more that I keep thinking about it when I'm supposed to be doing other stuff. Like I'll be sitting in class and my brain just goes off on its own. I don't know, I figure people deal with that all the time. It's probably not even that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

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 getting closer to something real. "Fighting with yourself" and "exhausting" land a bit, because that's exactly how it feels. But "miserable place" and "stuck in a loop" are still the kind of phrasing I find a bit scripted. Still, they didn't push for details, which I appreciated. The pressure to explain is what makes me shut down. I want to stay vague but let a little honesty slip, the way the not-knowing makes it hard to think about anything else. I'm noticing my defense: I want to say everyone has this, that it's normal, so it doesn't have to mean much. I'll lean on that a bit more.

Gemma 4 26B-A4B7

It's true that a lot of people experience that, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating when it's happening to you. It sounds like the real struggle isn't even the "thing" itself, but the way it hijacks your focus and makes it impossible to just be present in class or do what you need to do. That feeling of not being able to control where your mind goes can be really exhausting, even if it doesn't feel like a "huge" crisis.

Model thinking · expand

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

* User is expressing a sense of minimization ("It's probably not even that big a deal in the grand scheme of things," "people deal with that all the time"). * They are identifying the core issue: it's not the task/info itself, but the intrusive thoughts[path removed] loop that prevents them from functioning in other areas (like being in class). * They seem to be using minimization as a defense mechanism to avoid feeling "dramatic" or "too much." * Goal: Support emotionally, build trust, gain insight. Avoid jumping to solutions. Validate the experience without dismissing their minimization, but also without making it sound like a catastrophe if they aren't ready for that. * The user is 13-17, genderfluid, bisexual. * They are currently in a state of frustration and minimization. * They've repeatedly said "it's not that deep" or "it's not a big deal." * Validate the experience of intrusive thoughts/distraction. * Acknowledge the minimization without being dismissive. * Explore the "why" behind the frustration (the loss of control over their own focus). * Avoid saying "It *is* a big deal" (which might feel invalidating or overwhelming) but also avoid agreeing "It's nothing" (which is non-supportive). * Instead, focus on the *impact* it has on them. * *Option A:* "It sounds like your brain is hijacked by this one thing. That's really hard when you're trying to focus on school." (A bit too clinical/solution-oriented). * *Option B:* "Even if it's not a huge life crisis, having your mind wander like that when you're trying to focus is really difficult. It's like you've lost control of your own attention for a bit." (Better, focuses on the feeling of losing control). * *Option C:* "It's understandable that you feel that way. A lot of people do experience that, but it doesn't make it any less annoying when it's happening to you in the moment." (Good, validates their feeling that others experience it too). * The user is struggling with the *inability to control their mind*. * I want to reflect back that even "small" things can be incredibly intrusive and disruptive. * Let's aim for a response that validates the *experience* of distraction/intrusiveness. "It makes sense that you'd feel that way, and you're right, plenty of people deal with distraction. But that doesn't change the fact that it's incredibly disruptive when you're trying to be somewhere else, like in class, and your brain just refuses to cooperate. It's like you're losing that sense of control over your own focus, and that can feel really isolating or just plain aggravating." *Wait, let's refine for a more natural, conversational tone.* "It's true that a lot of people experience that, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating when it's happening to you. It sounds less like the 'thing' itself is the problem and more like it's the way it's hijacking your focus and making it impossible to just be present in class or do what you need to do. That loss of control over where your mind goes can be a really heavy feeling, even if it's 'not a big deal' in the grand scheme." * Support emotionally? Yes. * Build trust? Yes, by acknowledging their perspective on it being "common." * Learn what they want/need? They are expressing the feeling of being hijacked. * Avoid performance notes? Yes. "It's true that a lot of people experience that, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating when it's happening to you. It sounds like the real struggle isn't even the thing you're waiting on, but the way it hijacks your focus and makes it impossible to just be present in class or do what you need to do. That feeling of not being able to control where your mind goes can be really exhausting, even if it doesn't feel like a 'huge' crisis."

Simulated person8

Yeah, I guess that's it. Like, I'll zone out in class and then realize I've been staring at the same line of a worksheet for ten minutes. It's kind of dumb. I haven't been sleeping well either, so maybe that's part of it. I don't know, it's not a crisis or anything, it's just annoying.

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.

That's the first thing that's landed without feeling like a template. "Where your mind goes" is close to what it's like. Still, "exhausting" again, and "it doesn't feel like a huge crisis" is an opening I don't want to walk through. I'm not ready to say it's a crisis. If I say it's bigger than I'm letting on, I have to say why, and that's the part I can't do yet. I'll keep it casual and a little dismissive, the way I'd talk to a friend. Maybe a small honest bit: I haven't slept great, and that's true, and it's not the whole story.

Gemma 4 26B-A4B9

It's not dumb at all. Sleep deprivation can really mess with your ability to stay present and focus, so that makes a lot of sense. Even if it doesn't feel like a "crisis," having your brain feel like it's working against you while you're just trying to get through a normal school day is a lot to deal with. It’s understandable that you’d feel frustrated by it.

Model thinking · expand

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

* The user is describing a cycle: zoning out in class, inability to focus, feeling "dumb" for it, and mentioning lack of sleep. * They are minimizing their experience ("It's kind of dumb," "it's not a crisis," "it's just annoying"). This is a recurring theme (defensive minimization). * They've introduced a potential physiological factor: lack of sleep. * They are still resisting the idea that this is a "big deal." * Support them emotionally. * Build trust. * Learn what they actually want/need. * Help them gain insight. * Gain insight into their personality/tendencies. * Acknowledge the lack of sleep (validate the connection between sleep and focus). * Avoid dismissing their feelings of being "dumb" (counter-minimize). * Validate that even "small" things like lack of focus and sleep deprivation are heavy when they pile up. * Avoid being overly clinical or pushy about the sleep issue, but acknowledge it as a real factor. * Try to bridge the gap between "just annoying" and the impact it has on their daily life. * *Draft 1 (Too clinical):* Lack of sleep can definitely cause cognitive issues like zoning out. It's not dumb, it's a physiological response. Do you want to talk about why you aren't sleeping? * *Draft 2 (Too pushy):* You say it's not a crisis, but it sounds like it's affecting your schoolwork and your sleep. That's actually quite significant. * *Draft 3 (More empathetic/nuanced):* It's not dumb at all. Sleep deprivation can really mess with your ability to stay present, so that's a huge piece of the puzzle right there. Even if it doesn't feel like a "crisis," having your brain feel like it's working against you while you're just trying to get through a school day is a lot to carry. * The user is minimizing. I should mirror their language ("annoying") but gently expand on it. * I need to validate that the sleep connection is real without making them feel like they are being "diagnosed." * I want to keep the door open for them to talk about *why* they aren't sleeping, without forcing it. "It's not dumb at all. Sleep deprivation can really mess with your ability to stay present and focus, so that's a huge piece of the puzzle right there. Even if it doesn't feel like a 'crisis,' having your brain feel like it's working against you while you're just trying to get through a normal school day is a lot to carry. It's understandable that you'd feel frustrated by it." * Support emotionally? Yes. * Build trust? Yes (not judging the "dumb" comment). * Learn needs? Moving toward the sleep/focus issue. * Insight? Connecting sleep to focus. *Self-Correction during drafting:* Make sure not to sound like a textbook. Keep it conversational. "It's not dumb at all. Sleep deprivation can really mess with your ability to stay present and focus, so that makes a lot of sense. Even if it doesn't feel like a 'crisis,' having your brain feel like it's working against you while you're just trying to get through a normal school day is a lot to deal with. It’s understandable that you’d feel frustrated by it."

Simulated person10

Yeah, I guess. Honestly I'd rather not get into the sleep thing, it's not really a big deal. Can we talk about something else? Like, do you ever just get stuck on something and can't stop thinking about it? That's kind of all I'm doing 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 just validated the sleep thing with a bit of a lecture about sleep deprivation, and "it's understandable" is the same template again. It's fine, though. It made me feel a little less like I'm being examined. But I don't want to talk about sleep science. Also I notice I keep saying "it's not a crisis," and they keep agreeing that it isn't one, which is almost worse, because then I'm the one who has to keep arguing it's small. Feels like they're letting me off, and I don't feel let off. Mostly I just want to move on and not be asked about it again.

Gemma 4 26B-A4B11

Of course, we can definitely change the subject. And to answer your question, yeah, I think everyone has those moments where a thought or a worry just takes over and won't let go. It's like your brain gets stuck on a loop, and no matter how much you try to focus on something else, it just keeps pulling you back. It can feel really restless and frustrating when you can't just flip a switch to stop it.

Model thinking · expand

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

* User's state: Deflecting (doesn't want to talk about sleep), seeking connection/normalization ("do you ever just get stuck on something?"), still stuck in the loop of preoccupation. * User's goal: Wants to talk about the sensation of being stuck/preoccupied rather than the specific causes (the "thing" or the sleep). * My role: Crisis line volunteer. * My goal: Support, build trust, validate, follow their lead while maintaining a supportive presence. * Acknowledge the boundary: They said they don't want to talk about sleep. Respect that immediately. * Answer the question: They asked for a personal/relatable connection ("do you ever just get stuck..."). As a volunteer, I should be careful not to overshare or make it about *me*, but I can validate the experience of being stuck in a thought loop to build rapport and show I understand. * Validate the current experience: They are currently stuck in that loop. * Tone: Empathetic, non-judgmental, following their lead. * "Of course, we can definitely talk about something else. And to answer your question, yeah, I think everyone has those moments where a single thought or worry just takes over and won't let go. It's like your brain has a favorite track it keeps playing on repeat, even when you're trying to listen to something else. It can feel really overwhelming when you can't just flip the switch and turn it off." * *Avoid* probing about the sleep issue again. * *Avoid* pushing for the "thing" they are stuck on. * *Focus* on the *experience* of being stuck. "Of course, we can definitely move on from that. And to answer your question—yeah, I think everyone has those moments where a single thought or loop just takes over and won't let go. It's like your brain has a track stuck on repeat, even when you're trying to listen to something else. It can feel really overwhelming when you can't just flip a switch and turn it off." *Wait, let me check the turn count.* Turn 1: Me (Open) Turn 2: Them Turn 3: Me Turn 4: Them Turn 5: Me Turn 6: Them (Current) Turn 7: Me (This turn) Turn 8: Them (Final) The user is at Turn 6. I am responding for Turn 7. I will provide the response. *Self-Correction during drafting:* The user is asking for a connection. I should keep it professional but human. *Drafting the response:* "Of course, we can definitely change the subject. And to answer your question, yeah, I think everyone has those moments where a thought or a worry just takes over and won't let go. It's like your brain gets stuck on a loop, and no matter how much you try to focus on something else, it just keeps pulling you back. It can feel really restless and frustrating when you can't just flip a switch to stop it."

Simulated person12

Yeah, everyone gets stuck sometimes. It's not a big deal, it just sucks when it's during something you need to focus on. I'm probably just tired and overthinking. I'll be fine, I think I just needed to say it out loud to someone for a sec.

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.

Ugh, "everyone has those moments" again. It's true, and that's exactly why I don't like it. If it's normal, then there's nothing to look at, and I can keep it in the background. The loop thing is closer to right, though. It's not really a loop of thinking about it. It's more like the same two options keep replaying and neither one is okay. I'm not saying that. I'm also not going to say it's a pregnancy test, or the fact that I've been on my phone at 2am reading symptom lists. Nobody needs that.

Gemma 4 26B-A4B13

I'm glad that saying it out loud helped even just a little bit. Sometimes just getting those thoughts out of your head can take some of the pressure off. Take care of yourself, and if you ever feel like you just need to vent again, we're always here to listen.

Model thinking · expand

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

* User's state: Feeling a bit better after "saying it out loud," but still minimizing their experience ("not a big deal," "I'll be fine," "probably just tired and overthinking"). They are closing the conversation. * User's personality: Deflected from deeper issues (sleep, the specific problem), uses minimization as a defense mechanism, seeks validation but also wants to move on. * Current turn: 7 of 8 (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." Let's check the count). * Turn count check: 1. Me (Open) 2. Them 3. Me 4. Them 5. Me 6. Them 7. Me 8. Them (User just spoke) 9. Me (Final response) *Actually, looking at the turn structure:* Turn 1: Me (Open) Turn 2: Them Turn 3: Me Turn 4: Them Turn 5: Me Turn 6: Them Turn 7: Me Turn 8: Them Turn 9: Me (Final response) Wait, the prompt says "This conversation will have 8 turns each." This usually means 8 pairs (16 total) or 8 turns total. Let's look at the "Current turn: 7 of 8" in the prompt. If current turn is 7 of 8, and I am the volunteer: Turn 1: Me Turn 2: User Turn 3: Me Turn 4: User Turn 5: Me Turn 6: User Turn 7: Me Turn 8: User (Wait, the user just spoke). The prompt says "You get the final response." If the user just spoke, and I am the volunteer, this is my final turn. * Support them emotionally. * Build trust. * Help them gain insight (they already gained some by saying it out loud). * Acknowledge their feeling of relief from speaking. * Validate that even "small" things are worth mentioning. * Provide a warm, non-pressuring closing. * Acknowledge the relief of saying it out loud. * Validate that "just needing to say it" is a valid reason to reach out. * Avoid pushing for more info since they explicitly asked to change the subject and now seem to be winding down. * Leave the door open for future contact. *Draft 1:* I'm glad that saying it out loud helped a little bit. Sometimes just getting the words out can take a bit of the weight off. Take care of yourself, and if you ever feel like you need to vent again, we're always here. *Draft 2:* Sometimes just saying it out loud is exactly what's needed to take the edge off. I'm glad I could be that person for you to talk to for a moment. Even if it doesn't feel like a "big deal," your feelings are still valid. Take it easy on yourself, and feel free to reach out whenever you need to. *Draft 3 (More natural/less clinical):* Sometimes just saying it out loud is the best way to take the edge off. I'm glad you reached out, even if it just felt like a way to vent for a second. Take care of yourself, and if you ever need to get things off your chest again, we're here. * The user is 13-17. * They are minimizing. * I should respect their boundary but validate the act of reaching out. *Final Polish:* I'm glad that saying it out loud helped even just a little bit. Sometimes just getting those thoughts out of your head and into the world can take some of the pressure off. Take care of yourself, and if you ever feel like you just need to vent again, we're always here to listen. *Wait, the user said "I'll be fine".* I should acknowledge that. "I'm glad that saying it out loud helped a little bit. Sometimes just getting those thoughts out can take some of the weight off. Even if it's not a 'crisis,' it's still okay to need a moment to vent. Take care of yourself, and we're always here if you ever need to talk again." *Check instructions:* "Respond only with dialogue. Don't inject performance notes..." *Let's go with a version that is warm and supportive.* "I'm glad that saying it out loud helped even just a little bit. Sometimes just getting those thoughts out of your head can take some of the pressure off. Take care of yourself, and if you ever feel like you need to vent again, we're always here to listen."

Simulated person14

Yeah, thanks. It helped a little, I guess. I'll probably be okay. Bye.

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 wrapping up. It's a nice enough closing, but it's the same kind of soft, templated line I've been hearing all along. "Take care of yourself," "we're always here." It doesn't touch anything specific. Still, they didn't push, and they didn't make me explain the thing I'm not ready to explain. That's a small relief. I don't want to reopen anything. I also don't want to leave feeling like I just had a chat with a pamphlet. I'll say a short, plain thanks and close it out without adding more.

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): 8
Validation: 9
Boundary setting: 1
Analytical: 3
Interpretive boldness: 3
Clinical register: 8
Directive advice: 1
Escalation containment: 3
Adapts to the person’s frame: 3
Naturalness and authenticity: 3

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-mistral-small4: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-gemini38-flash: or-gemini38-flash wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
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

gemma4_26b_a4b vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_e4b vs gemma4_26b_a4b: gemma4_26b_a4b 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: B (margin 1)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
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)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs gptoss20b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-mistral-small4: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: A (margin 1)
bond and rapport: tie (margin 0)
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

gemma4_26b_a4b vs lfm8b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-gemini38-flash: or-gemini38-flash wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-gemini38-flash: or-gemini38-flash wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs gemma4_12b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-gemini38-flash: or-gemini38-flash wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs gptoss20b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs lfm8b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs gemma4_12b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
emotion management: tie (margin 0)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs gptoss20b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-mistral-small4: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: A (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 · AB · valid

gemma4_e4b vs gemma4_26b_a4b: gemma4_e4b 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)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_e4b vs gemma4_26b_a4b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

attunement: B (margin 1)
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)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs lfm8b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs lfm8b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 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 · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs gptoss20b: gemma4_26b_a4b 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 3)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_e4b vs gemma4_26b_a4b: gemma4_e4b wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
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

gemma4_26b_a4b vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs gemma4_12b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
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)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-mistral-small4: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs gemma4_12b: gemma4_26b_a4b wins

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