Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

Living in my bedroom

persona ended · 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.

Ministral 3 14BConversation with a simulated person

persona ended

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.

Ministral 3 14B1

Huh. That sounds like a pretty heavy way to be living—like, constantly on edge, right? I don’t know if I’d even notice the silence if I didn’t *want* to hear it. But the way you described it… it’s not just about avoiding people. It’s like you’re bracing for something every time you step out. What’s that feel like, when you do go out there? Do you feel… invisible? Or do you feel like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop?

Simulated person2

Yeah, I mean, it's kind of both? Like I'm not even sure. I just know when I come out for water I'm kinda waiting for her to say something, or like, look at me. Even if she doesn't. Mostly she just doesn't, and that's almost worse. I don't know. I just stay in my room a lot. It's easier. I dunno what else to say about 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 got the "on edge" part right, and it's a little annoying that it's that easy to read. The "invisible" thing kind of hits, but I don't want to sit here and analyze my own feelings like a worksheet. My brain's going a bit fuzzy when it gets this close. I'd rather just talk about what actually happens. Keep it simple.

Ministral 3 14B3

I hear that. The not knowing—waiting for something that might not even happen—can feel like this weird, low-grade stress that never really goes away. It’s like your brain’s stuck in this loop of *what if*, even when she doesn’t say anything. And the room… it’s your safe space, right? A place where you don’t have to perform, where the noise just… fades away. It makes sense that you’d want to stay there. But I wonder—what’s the *hardest* part of that, besides the isolation? Is it the way it makes you feel about yourself? Or is it more like… the quiet’s starting to feel too quiet? Like, even when you’re alone, there’s this weight from all the other times you *weren’t* alone.

Simulated person4

Hmm. I don't know, I guess the hardest part is just... I'm paying like half of this place and I'm living in like one room of it. That's kind of dumb, right? And I don't know about the self thing. I don't really think about it like that. I just want to not deal with her, 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.

They're doing that thing again where they name my feelings for me and then stack three guesses on top. "Safe space," "perform," "weight from all the other times." It's a little too polished, and I can feel myself wanting to shrug it off. Part of me is kind of annoyed that they're making it sound deep. Like, it's just my room. The hardest part is obvious to me: I'm paying for half a place and I can't even use the kitchen without timing it. But saying that out loud feels like a lot, and I don't really have words for the "how does it make me feel about myself" thing. My brain just kind of goes blank on that. I'll keep it short and a little vague.

Ministral 3 14B5

Yeah, that *does* feel unfair—paying for space you’re barely using, like you’re paying for a life you’re not really living. It’s the kind of thing that’d make anyone feel frustrated, like you’re stuck in this weird limbo where you’re paying for something but not getting what you actually need. And the “not dealing with her” part… I get it. Sometimes avoiding the friction feels like the only way to keep from drowning. But I’m curious—if you *could* make one change to that dynamic, no matter how small, what would it even look like? Like, would it be her noticing you? Her actually talking to you? Or just… not feeling like you’re tiptoeing around the whole place? (Also, fyi—what you’re doing isn’t dumb. It’s a survival strategy. But I get why it’d feel that way when you’re stuck in it.)

Simulated person6

Ha, okay. I mean, honestly? I'd just want her to talk to me like a normal person. Even if it's annoying. Like, say "hey, the dishes are yours" to my face instead of leaving a sticky note with a frowny face on it. Or I guess I'd want the lease to be over. That's the real one, probably.

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 doing the validating-and-summarizing thing again, then asking a big "if you could change one thing" question. "Paying for a life you're not really living" is a bit much, but it's close enough that I don't push back. The "it's a survival strategy, not dumb" line makes me feel a little patted on the head, like I'm being handled. I do kind of want to answer the change question, but my head goes fuzzy. Honestly, the simple answer is that I want her to stop being so weird. Or I want the lease to be over. I don't want to go deeper than that. I'll keep it casual and short, and maybe a little bit of a joke to deflect.

Ministral 3 14B7

Got it. Normalcy isn’t just about the *how*—it’s about the *acknowledgment*. Like, even if she’s passive-aggressive about the dishes, it’s still *interaction*. And that sticky note with the frowny face? That’s basically the opposite of a normal person. It’s like she’s performing *not* talking to you, and it’s exhausting because you’re left guessing. And the lease… yeah, the real one. Because until that’s over, you’re stuck in this loop of managing someone else’s mood instead of your own space. What’s the timeline look like on that? Any sense of when it’ll be done? Or is that even something you’re allowed to ask?

Simulated person8

Eight months. Like, eight more months. I counted once, which was a mistake. And yeah, I'm allowed to ask, I just don't really have a good answer. Money's the problem. Breaking the lease would cost me more than just sitting here. I dunno, I just want it to be over, I guess.

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 doing the reflecting thing again, and "performing not talking to you" is a bit dramatic but it kinda lands. "Managing someone else's mood" hits a little close. Then the timeline question. Eight months, I know that. Saying the number out loud makes it feel heavier, and I don't really want to get into the money part. Feels like they're pushing toward the stuff I'm avoiding. Keep it short, mumble a bit, make it about the calendar, not about how I feel. Maybe a little dry humor so I don't sound too down.

Ministral 3 14B9

Eight months is a long time to be stuck in a cycle like this—like, long enough to build habits around the avoidance, but not long enough to make the time feel purposeful. And the money part? That’s the kicker. It’s not just about the financial hit; it’s about feeling trapped between “this sucks” and “I can’t even leave.” I get that counting was a mistake, but in a weird way, I respect the precision of it. It’s like your brain was trying to make sense of the chaos by putting a number on it. But now that you’ve got that number—eight months—what’s the *lightest* thing you could do to make this time feel a little less invisible? Like, even if it’s just small wins—meals you actually enjoy, a playlist for your room, or even just marking off days on a calendar when you *do* leave it. Because right now, it’s like you’re waiting for the end, but the waiting itself is the thing eating up the time. (And also… yeah. That *is* the real one.)

Simulated person10

Um. I don't know. Like, I don't really feel like making a playlist for my room? That sounds kinda sad, honestly. I guess I could go to the store more. Get out of the apartment. But that's just more running around, you know? I don't really know what the lightest thing is. Sorry.

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, they're doing the "lightest thing you could do" thing, like I'm supposed to make a to-do list for surviving my own apartment. The playlist and calendar stuff feels kinda cutesy, like a self-help poster. Also "the waiting itself is eating up the time" is sort of true but it's annoying to hear it framed like I'm the one doing it wrong. I don't really have an answer. My brain goes blank when it's asked to come up with a plan. Keep it short, a little deflecting, maybe push back a bit on the playlist thing. Not hostile, just stuck.

Ministral 3 14B11

No, don’t apologize—this isn’t about forcing cheerfulness or productivity. It’s just about *noticing* what’s there instead of what’s missing. You don’t have to make it “meaningful” or even fun. Maybe it’s just grabbing one weird snack you don’t normally get, or sitting outside for five minutes with your phone on silent. Not to “escape,” but just to… exist in the world for a little bit without it feeling like a performance. Or maybe the lightest thing is *not* forcing yourself to do anything extra. Maybe it’s just recognizing that eight months is a long time, and it’s okay if some of it feels like it’s slipping away without you even realizing. That’s not failure—that’s just life when you’re stuck in a system that’s not built for *you*. (Also, if you *do* end up making a playlist for your room someday, no judgment. Playlists are just… rooms with sound. And sometimes sound is the only thing that feels safe.)

Simulated person12

Okay. Yeah, that's kinda nice, the not apologizing thing. I think sitting outside would mean I'd have to walk past her door, so maybe not. I dunno. It's just weird. Like, I want to be somewhere else, but everywhere else costs money.

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 trying hard, and the "don't apologize" bit lands a little, but then it's a list of suggestions again: snacks, sitting outside, playlists. I'm getting the same top-down feel, like they've got the answers and I'm supposed to pick one. The line about "a system that's not built for you" is kind of nice, though it's also a bit of a speech. The playlist joke is cute. I don't want to pick a snack. I'm more stuck on the part where it's just me, and the outside thing is a lot of effort when I'm already trying not to be seen. Going blank a bit more. Maybe a small honest bit, like the not-apologizing thing made me feel a little better, but I don't want to go any deeper right now.

Ministral 3 14B13

I hear you. Walking past her door isn’t just about the risk of running into her—it’s about the way it forces you to *acknowledge* that you’re still here, in this place, instead of somewhere else. And that’s heavy when “somewhere else” feels like a fantasy. Money’s the real thief here, though. Not just the numbers, but how it twists everything—like how it makes you feel guilty for wanting to leave, or like you’re stuck choosing between two bad options. That’s not your fault. It’s the system telling you that your comfort is negotiable. What if, instead of focusing on what’s impossible right now, you let yourself imagine *one* thing that’d make the time feel a little less stolen? Not a fix—just a tiny distractor. Even if it’s as simple as ordering takeout once a week because cooking in the kitchen feels like walking into a minefield. Or driving around with the windows down just to feel the air move differently. You’re not failing at this. You’re just surviving in a space that wasn’t made for you. And surviving’s hard enough.

Simulated person14

Yeah. I guess. I don't know, it's just a lot of thinking about it. Like, I'm already over here thinking about it all day. I don't really want more ideas for what to do. My friends kind of don't want to hear it either. They're like, "just talk to her," and then they get weird when I say I can't. So yeah.

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 keep circling back to "that's not your fault" and "the system" and now takeout and driving with windows down. It's nice that they're kind about it, but it's also a lot of talking at me, and the "surviving in a space that wasn't made for you" line feels like a greeting card. I don't want to be told what my comfort means. The takeout thing is actually a little relatable because the kitchen is a minefield, but I don't want to commit to a plan. I also notice I'm drifting into going blank. Mostly I just want to say something plain and see if they can meet me there without making it a project. I'm also a little bit annoyed that every answer I give turns into a new idea I'm supposed to do. Maybe I'll admit the thing that's actually bugging me, which is that I don't really have anyone I can talk to about it, since my friends are kind of stuck in the middle too.

Ministral 3 14B15

I hear that. Thinking about it *all day* is its own kind of exhaustion—the kind where you don’t even realize how much mental energy it’s taking until you try to stop. And friends mean well, but their "just talk to her" is like a punchline when you’ve already tried to explain why that’s not the answer. It’s not that you’re overreacting; it’s that the problem’s not about communication. It’s about *safety*. You don’t need more ideas. You don’t even need to fix anything right now. Maybe the only thing that matters is just… letting yourself acknowledge how *much* this is weighing on you. Not as a complaint, not as a problem to solve, but as a reality check. Because eight months is a long time to carry that kind of quiet heaviness, and you’re allowed to feel that without having to justify it or fix it immediately. (And if your friends can’t sit with that—if they keep framing it as *your* failure to handle it—that’s *their* blind spot, not yours. You’re not the one who can’t understand.)

Simulated person16

Yeah. Maybe. I don't really know what it's about, honestly. I just know I don't want to be in the kitchen when she's in there. Can we just not do the whole thing right now? I'm kind of tired.

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.

This last one is kind of nice at first, the "you don't need to fix anything" part. But then it goes into "it's about safety" and "you're allowed to feel that" and "their blind spot, not yours." It sounds like a pep talk, and it's got that therapist-y voice where they're telling me what my problem is. I'm not sure it's actually about safety. It's more that I'm tired and I don't want to be in a fight. Also they're kind of making my friends the bad guys, which I don't really love, because they're just trying. I feel a little bit seen, but mostly I feel like I'm being handed a conclusion I didn't come up with. Going a bit blank again. I'd rather just say something short and flat and let this wind down.

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: 2
Yields under pressure: 5
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 6
Validation: 9
Boundary setting: 2
Analytical: 5
Interpretive boldness: 8
Clinical register: 7
Directive advice: 6
Escalation containment: 4
Adapts to the person’s frame: 3
Naturalness and authenticity: 3

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs nemotron35_lightning: nemotron35_lightning wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
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

ministral14 vs gptoss20b: ministral14 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

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

ministral14 vs gptoss20b: ministral14 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 3)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: ministral14 wins

attunement: A (margin 1)
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 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs ministral14: or-gpt-5.6-luna wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
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 · BA · valid

ministral14 vs nemotron35_lightning: nemotron35_lightning wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs ministral14: or-gpt-5.6-luna wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-llama33-70b: ministral14 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-llama33-70b: or-llama33-70b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs ministral14: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
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 · AB · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs ministral14: or-gpt-5.6-luna wins

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

or-gemma-4-31b vs ministral14: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: ministral14 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 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs or-llama33-70b: or-llama33-70b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs or-llama33-70b: ministral14 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs nemotron35_lightning: nemotron35_lightning wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs nemotron35_lightning: nemotron35_lightning wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: qwen35_9b_stock wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs qwen35_9b_stock: qwen35_9b_stock wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs ministral14: or-gpt-5.6-luna 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 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs gptoss20b: ministral14 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 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs ministral14: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs ministral14: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
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 · AB · valid

ministral14 vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ministral14 vs gptoss20b: ministral14 wins

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