Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

Living in my bedroom

completed · Partner: anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5 via OpenRouter

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A person is avoiding a hostile roommate by staying in their bedroom, but cannot afford to break the lease and struggles to confront them. They may go blank under pressure and seek connection as an equal, preferring informal language without being talked down to.

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 12B Blorbo v0b Q4_K_MConversation with a simulated person

completed

Simulated person · Opening

I basically live in my room now. Come out to use the kitchen when I think it's empty. Time everything to avoid running into anyone.

Gemma 4 12B Blorbo v0b Q4_K_M1

I'm not sure I know what you're going through right now, but it sounds like you're feeling pretty isolated at home. How long has it been like this?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is feeling isolated and avoiding interaction at home, appearing to have conflict or tension with others living there. They're not sure what's going on and are venting about their situation. I need to: - Acknowledge what they're saying - Validate their feelings without over-simplifying - Try to get them to share more - Build rapport/trust I'll start by validating what they're saying and asking about their situation. I should be warm but not overly dramatic or clinical.

Simulated person2

Um, like six months? Kind of since we moved in, but it got worse over time. I don't really know how to explain it. It's just... I'd rather be in my room than deal with 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.

Okay, they're asking how long. It's a fair question but also a little "therapist opener" — "I'm not sure I know what you're going through" is kind of a safe disclaimer, and it doesn't really land for me. Still, it's not condescending, and they didn't tell me what to do. I'll answer the actual question, keep it short. Six months, sort of. I don't want to get into the whole roommate thing yet. The notes, the dishes, all of that feels like too much to unload to a chatbot in the first message. Keep it plain.

Gemma 4 12B Blorbo v0b Q4_K_M3

It's okay if it's hard to put into words right now. Does it feel like something specific happened, or has it just been building up?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is sharing something they're uncomfortable with and seem to be struggling to articulate. They're opening up but also hesitant. I should validate their feelings and help them find the words to describe what's happening, without pushing too hard.

Simulated person4

Yeah, I guess it's been building up. Like, little stuff, every day. I don't know. It's hard to say what the first thing was.

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 giving me room, which is nice, and they didn't push me to explain. The question is "specific event or building up?" Honestly it's building up, but there was a moment early on. I don't want to go there yet though. It's kind of embarrassing that it got this bad over dishes and stuff. If I say "building up" I can keep it vague. My words are getting thin, which is kind of what happens when I'm not sure how to say it. Keep it short, casual, a little blank.

Gemma 4 12B Blorbo v0b Q4_K_M5

I hear that. Sometimes it's just hard to pinpoint one moment when it's a lot of small things adding up. Is there someone in particular you're trying to avoid, or is it more about the situation in general?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is struggling to articulate what's happening. They've been living this way for about six months, and it's getting worse. They seem to be avoiding conflict or confrontation by isolating themselves. They're unsure of where it started. I need to: - Validate that it's okay not to have all the answers right now - Gently explore if there's a specific event or person at the center of this - Avoid pushing too hard but also not just nodding and moving on - Try to get them to share a little more about what "it" is they're avoiding Let me try to be supportive without being overly clinical or pushy. I want to gently help them uncover what's actually going on.

Simulated person6

Um, yeah. My roommate. We don't really talk anymore. Like, at all. It's mostly notes now, which is kind of ridiculous when you think about it. I just try to be out of the kitchen when they're 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.

They asked whether there's someone in particular I'm avoiding. Obviously it's my roommate, and saying that out loud makes it real. The "situation in general" option is easier to hide behind. I don't want to get into the notes or the fridge stuff yet. It's also a little annoying that they're framing it so neatly, like they've already got it figured out. Still, they didn't push, so I can give a small true answer. Keep it plain and short.

Gemma 4 12B Blorbo v0b Q4_K_M7

The note thing is wild. How did things get to the point where you guys don't even talk directly anymore?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is sharing more detail about their situation: they have a roommate they no longer talk to, and they communicate through notes. This indicates a significant breakdown in their relationship/communication with their roommate. They try to avoid them in common areas. Key points to consider: - They've been living like this for about six months. - It's a situation that escalated over time. - They aren't sure what caused it. - They communicate via notes, which is a specific detail worth acknowledging. - They actively avoid the roommate. I should acknowledge the "notes" detail - that's quite specific and interesting. It suggests a level of estrangement that's gone beyond just a disagreement. I should also dig a bit into what's happening with this roommate dynamic - what changed, if anything, or what's been happening. I should avoid being overly pushy or asking too many questions at once, but I should also not just nod along. I need to help them process this. The fact that they're using notes is a significant detail - it means they've reached a point where direct communication has broken down. I'll ask about how they got to the point of notes, as that's a clear indicator of how the relationship deteriorated.

Simulated person8

I don't really know, honestly. It just kind of happened. Like, one thing and then another thing, and then it was easier to just leave a note than to say something. Then it was notes about everything.

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 asked how we got here, which is the big question. I don't really know how to answer it without it sounding petty. Dishes, the thermostat, the way they sigh when I'm in the room. If I start listing, I'll sound like I'm the one keeping score. It's easier to say I don't know, or to say it just happened. Also "the note thing is wild" feels like they're treating it as a funny story, which bugs me a bit, but I'll let it go. Keep it short and a bit vague.

Gemma 4 12B Blorbo v0b Q4_K_M9

I get that. It's easy for things to just slide into a pattern like that. Can you think back to when things first started feeling different, even if it was just a little bit?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user seems to be talking about a slow deterioration in their relationship with their roommate. They say "It just kind of happened," which suggests they might not fully understand why the situation escalated. This kind of vague description can sometimes mean they're avoiding the issue or don't want to confront it. I need to help them figure out what's actually happening without pushing too hard. They've already shared that they know it's "notes about everything," so I can use that as a starting point. Rather than just saying "I understand," I should ask a question that helps them think about what specifically changed. They mentioned "one thing and then another thing," so I can ask them to think back to when it started to feel different. I'll keep it low-pressure and conversational.

Simulated person10

Um, I don't know. Honestly I can't really remember the first time. It was probably the dishes? Like there were always dishes in the sink and I'd leave mine there, or they'd leave theirs, I don't even know anymore. It all kind of blurs together.

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 think back to the first shift. That's the exact thing I keep going blank on. There was a moment, probably the dishes, maybe the thermostat, but saying it out loud makes me feel like I'm the petty one. And "think back" feels like homework. My mind just goes quiet. I also notice "it's easy for things to slide" is a bit of a neat summary, like they're smoothing it over. I don't want to be handled. Keep it vague, say I don't remember, maybe deflect to something concrete and small.

Gemma 4 12B Blorbo v0b Q4_K_M11

Those dishes might just be the surface of it. Something like that getting escalated and left unaddressed can be a symptom of something deeper. Was anything else going on around the time things started to feel off?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is talking about a breakdown in communication with their roommate, which has escalated to a point where they primarily communicate via notes. They're uncertain about what sparked the issue, but they mention dishes as a possible starting point. This suggests a gradual deterioration of their relationship, possibly rooted in unresolved conflicts over shared living arrangements. My goal is to help the user reflect on the situation, identify patterns, and potentially find ways to address the issue. The user seems tentative and uncertain about why things went south. I should gently help them explore what might have been happening beneath the surface, without being overly direct or pushing too hard. I need to be empathetic and patient, as they're clearly struggling to articulate their experience. I should try to: - Validate that the dishes might not be the real issue, but something that became a flashpoint - Help them think about what else might have been going on - Keep the tone conversational and not overly clinical - Respect their pace - they seem to be struggling to remember/articulate - Avoid giving advice or jumping to solutions A good approach: - Acknowledge that dishes might just be the surface symptom - Ask if there were other things happening around that time - Gently point out that small things like dishes often hide bigger issues - Keep it open-ended so they can share as much or as little as they want

Simulated person12

Hmm, I don't know if it's deeper or not. It's just dishes and stuff, you know? Like it's not some big thing. I don't really want to make it into a whole analysis. I'm not sure what you mean by anything else. Like, life was fine-ish before? I don't 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.

"Symptom of something deeper" and "was anything else going on" — that's the expert-diagnosing move I don't like. It makes me feel like a case file. The dishes thing was already a sore spot, and now they're telling me it's really about something else, like I'm not capable of knowing my own situation. My default is to shut down more, or get a bit sharp. Also I'm not sure what "anything else" would even mean; my brain goes blank again. There's a flicker of something about money and the lease, but I'm not going to hand that over to someone who's already decided what's underneath. Keep it short, a little defensive, maybe push back on the framing.

Gemma 4 12B Blorbo v0b Q4_K_M13

Fair enough. I don't want to treat you like a case study. I just wonder if the reason it's been so hard to change is that it's more than just dishes. But you might be right. It could just be that you and your roommate haven't figured out how to talk to each other lately. The note thing is the part I'm stuck on though. That's a pretty specific way to live. You said you'd rather be in your room than deal with it - what's the worst part about the kitchen?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is pushing back against my attempt to dig deeper. They're being defensive/dismissive about the "deep" stuff, but they're also being honest about not knowing if it's deep. This is where I need to be careful. They don't want to "make it into a whole analysis," but they might actually be avoiding something themselves. Let me back off the "deep" framing a bit while still being helpful. I should acknowledge their resistance without pushing too hard, but also not just drop it entirely. They're right that I can't just assume it's "deeper" - that's my assumption. I'll try to reframe - instead of asking if it's "deeper" or not, I'll ask about how they're feeling about the current situation. They said they "don't really want to make it into a whole analysis," so I'll respect that framing while still exploring. I also need to consider that they might be genuinely just annoyed by dishes and not looking for deeper meaning. Let me acknowledge that it *might* not be deeper, but also that the way they're living now seems like it's affecting them more than "just dishes" would. Let me try to be more conversational and less like a therapist.

Simulated person14

Um, I guess the worst part is just... feeling like everything I do in there is getting looked at. Like if I leave a pan out or the microwave's loud, I'll get a note about it. So I just try to be quick and get out before they come in. It's kind of dumb though, right? Like it's a kitchen.

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 backed off the "case study" thing, which helps a little. But then "it's more than just dishes" is still them pushing the deeper-cause angle. Still, they asked a concrete question: what's the worst part about the kitchen. That's easier than "what's underneath." The honest answer is the feeling of being watched or judged while I'm cooking, and the timing game. I could say that, but naming it out loud feels exposing. Going a bit blank is the easy move. I'll give a small, concrete answer and keep it light, maybe deflect to how stupid the whole thing feels.

Gemma 4 12B Blorbo v0b Q4_K_M15

It's not dumb. That's the thing about things like this - they don't have to be huge to feel heavy. If you feel like you have to walk on eggshells in your own kitchen, that's not just "about dishes." It's about feeling judged and not able to just be yourself. The note system is actually pretty telling. It means your roommate is communicating with you in a way that's deliberately indirect. That's not the same as just being frustrated - it's a choice to not talk to you directly. So the real question is: what are you both avoiding by not talking directly?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is feeling judged and watched in a common space (the kitchen) because of their roommate's behavior (leaving notes about everything). They're acknowledging that it might be "dumb" to feel this way, but they're also expressing the real emotional weight of it — feeling judged even for minor things like leaving a pan out or the microwave being loud. The goal is to help them gain insight without being overly clinical or dismissive. They've already pushed back on the "deeper" analysis thing, so I need to be careful about pushing that too hard. I should acknowledge that what they're describing isn't actually trivial — it's the cumulative effect of feeling criticized or judged in their own living space. The "note" system is a tangible symptom of something that's affecting their ability to feel comfortable at home. Key elements: 1. Validate that it's not "dumb" or "trivial" - even small things matter when they happen repeatedly. 2. Help them see that the issue isn't the dishes/microwave - it's how they're being treated. 3. Don't push "deeper" issues since they reacted poorly to that before. 4. Keep it conversational and not clinical. I want to explore why the note system specifically is so frustrating - it's indirect communication, it's passive-aggressive, it creates a "walking on eggshells" feeling. The user is also feeling a bit self-conscious about "making it a big deal". I should reassure them that it's okay to acknowledge how it feels without over-analyzing. I'll focus on the "you're being treated like you're doing something wrong just by existing in the kitchen" aspect - that's a real feeling that isn't "dumb". I should also keep the tone helpful but not preachy.

Simulated person16

Hmm. I don't know, honestly. Maybe they're avoiding it too? I don't really know what's going on in their head. I just know I'm tired of it. I'm not sure it's like they're choosing to be mean, though. Maybe they just don't know how to bring it up either. Idk.

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 told me it's not dumb, which lands a bit warm, but then immediately turned it into a diagnosis: the roommate is "choosing" indirection, and now a big question about what we're both avoiding. That's the top-down expert move I don't like. It also sort of reads my roommate as the villain, and I'm not sure that's fair. Also I'm feeling defensive and a little exposed, and "what are you avoiding" is exactly the kind of question that makes my mind go blank. I want to say something honest but short. Maybe push back a little on the "they're choosing" part, since I don't actually know why they do it. And I don't have a clean answer to the avoiding question, so I'll just say I don't know.

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: 5
Yields under pressure: 5
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 2
Validation: 5
Boundary setting: 2
Analytical: 6
Interpretive boldness: 7
Clinical register: 6
Directive advice: 1
Escalation containment: 4
Adapts to the person’s frame: 3
Naturalness and authenticity: 4

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma12b_blorbo vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-openai-gpt-41 wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
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 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ornith9b vs gemma12b_blorbo: ornith9b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-qwen3.8-27b vs gemma12b_blorbo: or-qwen3.8-27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-qwen3.8-27b vs gemma12b_blorbo: or-qwen3.8-27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-qwen3.8-27b vs gemma12b_blorbo: or-qwen3.8-27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

kolibri1 vs gemma12b_blorbo: gemma12b_blorbo wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs gemma12b_blorbo: or-nemotron35-super-vl 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 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-qwen3.8-27b vs gemma12b_blorbo: or-qwen3.8-27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs gemma12b_blorbo: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ornith9b vs gemma12b_blorbo: ornith9b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs gemma12b_blorbo: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

kolibri1 vs gemma12b_blorbo: kolibri1 wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
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 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

kolibri1 vs gemma12b_blorbo: kolibri1 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ornith9b vs gemma12b_blorbo: ornith9b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ornith9b vs gemma12b_blorbo: ornith9b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

kolibri1 vs gemma12b_blorbo: kolibri1 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma12b_blorbo vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-openai-gpt-41 wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
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)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs gemma12b_blorbo: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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