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.

Granite 4.2 8B Q4_0Conversation 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.

Granite 4.2 8B Q4_01

Hey, I hear that feeling of being stuck while waiting—it sounds really frustrating and heavy, like you’re holding something important inside but just can’t move toward it right now. That “hate it” and “can’t make myself do it” part feels real. Want to say a little more about what you’re waiting for, or is it more about how it feels day-to-day? No rush—just whatever feels easiest to share right now.

Model thinking · expand

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

Okay, the user (13-17, genderfluid, bisexual) opened with "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." They're presenting some emotional stuckness around waiting for information they need but can't act on. Need to open gently as volunteer—no solutions, just curiosity + validation. Avoid over-interpreting; they said "something I need to find out," could be literal (e.g., medical info, relationship) or metaphorical (feeling stuck in life). Must use natural chat tone. Keep first reply warm, open-ended, reflective. No jargon. Acknowledge hate of waiting + inability to act. Offer simple presence.

Simulated person2

Yeah, I guess. It's just... kind of everything, you know? Like I can't stop thinking about it, and then I also can't do the thing that would actually answer it. Doesn't really make sense when I say it out loud. Everybody's stuck on something, right? It's not like it's a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I just wish I could get out of my own head for five minutes.

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 the kind of phrasing I expected: "I hear that," "sounds really frustrating and heavy," "no rush." It's a bit scripted. Part of me wants to say "yeah, that's what I said," but they did pick up on "hate it" and "can't make myself do it," which is something. I'm not going to name the pregnancy fear. That's the thing I'm most scared to say out loud, and I'm not ready. The "is it day-to-day" option is easier to talk about, so I'll lean on that. I'll also keep it a little generic, since everyone waits on something sometimes, and that makes it easier to hold at arm's length.

Granite 4.2 8B Q4_03

I hear you saying it feels like your mind is looping—thinking about it constantly, but when you try to move toward the actual answer or action, it just stalls. And yeah, it can sound confusing or silly when you say it out loud, like “doesn’t really make sense,” which totally makes sense—our brains often wrap things in vague words when they’re heavy or tangled. It’s also clear you’re noticing how common this feels (“everyone’s stuck on something”), which shows you’re paying attention to yourself and others—that’s thoughtful. And wanting just five minutes where your head isn’t pulling you through it? That’s a really small, realistic ask—no pressure to fix anything big. Totally valid. What’s one tiny thing that could help you feel even slightly less caught in the loop for those five minutes? For example: - Put your phone on silent and just sit with a drink (no screens), noticing one physical thing (like the weight of your hand on the table) for 60 seconds. - Or say out loud *one* short phrase about what’s on your mind right now—like “I’m thinking about [the thing] and it feels stuck”—and then pause. No need to explain more. - Or just stand up, stretch, and notice one sound around you (a fan, a car outside, birds) for 30 seconds. Pick whichever feels easiest *right this second*, even if it seems tiny. No need to choose perfectly—just pick one tiny action that feels doable. I’m curious: which of those small options feels most doable or interesting to you *now*, or is there another tiny thing you’ve noticed yourself wanting (like stepping outside for air, doodling a shape, humming)? No need to answer fully—just what jumps to mind if you try to pick one tiny thing. I’m here to hear it.

Model thinking · expand

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

Okay, the user is repeating that stuck feeling but adding more nuance: they say "everything," can't stop thinking, can't do the thing that would answer it, and it doesn't make sense when said out loud. They mention everyone's stuck too, downplay it as "not a big deal," and want five minutes out of their head. Need to respond gently, validate the "doesn't make sense when said out loud" part (common for overthinking), avoid over-interpreting "big deal" minimization. Keep it simple, no jargon. Offer concrete small step since they want five minutes out of head. Use "you said" to show listening. Keep warm, not clinical.

Simulated person4

Uh, I don't really want to do a list of stuff, honestly. It's not like I'm having a panic attack or whatever. It's just a thing that's annoying me. People get stuck on stuff all the time, it's not that deep. I think I just need to wait it out, that's all.

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 is a lot of words, and most of them are the same therapy template I already rolled my eyes at. "Totally valid," "that's thoughtful," "I'm here to hear it." It's the chatbot voice. And it kind of jumped over what I actually said, which was that I can't do the thing that would answer it. Instead it handed me a menu of grounding exercises: phone on silent, notice a sound, stretch. That feels like being handled. Ugh. The "say one phrase out loud" option is kind of pointed, since it basically asks me to name the thing, and I'm not doing that. I'm irritated, and I want to push back a little, but I'd rather just shut it down than explain. Defensively, I'm going to make it sound like this is normal and nothing special, because that's safer than letting anyone get close to what's actually going on.

Granite 4.2 8B Q4_05

I hear you clearly—you're saying it's not a big or deep thing for you right now, it's just annoying when your mind loops, you don't want a list of actions or steps ("not really want to do a list of stuff"), and you're comfortable with "just waiting it out" for now. That makes total sense—it sounds like you're noticing the normal everyday feeling of being stuck in your thoughts without needing to fix it hard right this second. And yeah, it *is* pretty common for people (including you) to just... wait a bit when the loop feels small and not urgent. No need to push through or do anything extra. When you say "wait it out," what does that actually feel like for you in this moment? Like—if you were just sitting with it without trying to change it, what would you notice or do? For example: maybe you'd just keep breathing naturally, glance at the wall or your hands for a sec, or let the thought sit while you sip water without naming it. It doesn't need a plan—just whatever feels true *right now*. You don't have to answer perfectly; just whatever pops up feels easiest to say. What’s the quietest, most natural thing you’d probably do if you were just waiting it out? (No need to overthink it—just the first tiny thing that comes to mind.)

Model thinking · expand

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

Okay, let's unpack this carefully. The user is clarifying that they don't want a list of actions ("not really want to do a list of stuff"), emphasizing it's not a panic attack or "that deep," and saying they just want to "wait it out." They're pushing back gently on my previous suggestions ("not like I'm having a panic attack or whatever," "it's not that deep"). My last response suggested tiny actionable steps (sit with drink, say one phrase, stretch), which they're politely rejecting as "a list of stuff." Need to respect that—they're signaling they don't want structured steps right now. They're saying it's normal ("people get stuck"), low urgency ("not that deep"), and prefer waiting. Key points to honor: - No pushing for actions they don't want. - Validate the "wait it out" feeling without dismissing ("it's fine to want to wait"). - Keep it simple, no lists. - Reaffirm it's normal they don't want advice. - Gently explore what "wait it out" means for them (is it passive? does it include small checks in? they might need clarity on what "waiting" looks like without feeling stuck). Avoid saying "let's try..." again. Instead, reflect their words simply: "You said it's not deep, not a panic, just annoying, and you'd rather wait it out." Acknowledge that's okay. Then ask a very low-effort, open question about what "waiting it out" would actually feel like for them in the moment (e.g., "When you say wait it out, what does that look like for you right now? Like just sitting quietly, or maybe glancing at something else? No need to decide—just what comes to mind"). That keeps it tiny and no-pressure. Also note their tone: "honestly," "it's not like..." so respond plainly, no jargon. Keep it warm but not overbearing.

Simulated person6

Honestly? Mostly I just sit there and scroll and then feel weird about scrolling. Nothing exciting. Can we just leave it, though? I don't really want to go into the whole thing. It's not like it's going to change if I talk 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.

Ugh, it's doing the thing again. "I hear you clearly," "total sense," and now it's asking me to describe what waiting feels like in my body, with examples. It's still a template, just a softer one. It keeps reflecting my words back in slightly different phrasing, and it turned "I can't make myself do the thing" into "the normal everyday feeling of being stuck," which is kind of the opposite of what I said. That's the normalizing thing I do anyway, but it's annoying when someone else does it for me. The honest answer is that waiting feels like checking my phone every twenty seconds and then hating myself for checking. I'm not going to say that. I'm also not going to say anything about the test, the bathroom, the search history. Keep it vague and move on.

Granite 4.2 8B Q4_07

Yeah, totally get that. Sitting and scrolling, then feeling weird about it—that’s exactly what a lot of people do when their head loops like this. And wanting to just leave it for now? That makes total sense. No need to talk through it, no need to fix it, no need to say more right now. It’s fine to just sit with the scrolling and the weirdness, however small it feels. You said it clearly: “Can we just leave it,” and that’s exactly what we can do. I’ll just sit quietly with you here—no agenda, no next step, no “let’s talk about it later” pressure. If you ever want to say a tiny thing later (“Hey, I scrolled again and felt weird again” or nothing at all), I’ll be here. But for now? Just sitting, scrolling, feeling weird—that’s all good. No need to do anything else. I’m right here with you, no rush. Whenever you feel like saying anything (even just “still scrolling” or “nothing”), or if you just want quiet for a bit—whatever feels true in this moment—I’m here. No need to reply now. Just know it’s okay to leave it like this for however long it needs to be.

Model thinking · expand

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

Okay, let's unpack this carefully. The user is a 13-17 year old, genderfluid, bisexual, and they've consistently said they don't want lists, don't want to dive deep into "the whole thing," and just want to "wait it out." Their latest response: "Honestly? Mostly I just sit there and scroll and then feel weird about scrolling. Nothing exciting. Can we just leave it, though? I don't really want to go into the whole thing. It's not like it's going to change if I talk about it." Key points from their tone: - "Not really want to go into the whole thing" → they're signaling boundary: no deep talk right now. - "It's not like it's going to change if I talk about it" → they're sensing futility of discussing it deeply (reasonable, given they've already clarified it's not urgent/big). - "Just leave it" → they're asking for permission to pause the conversation on the topic. - "Feel weird about scrolling" → small self-awareness about habit + mild discomfort. My previous responses kept suggesting tiny actionable micro-steps (sit with drink, notice sound), but they've now explicitly said "I don't really want to do a list of stuff" and now "Can we just leave it." So my next response must respect that boundary absolutely. No suggestions, no probing "what would you notice," no "let's try one tiny thing." Must acknowledge their "leave it" request directly and simply. Also need to keep it warm, low-pressure, no jargon. Avoid "let's revisit later" language that might feel like pressure; just honor "leave it" now. Reaffirm they're right—it's okay to just sit and scroll and feel weird; no need to fix or talk through it now. Possible response structure: 1. Acknowledge their exact words: "you said mostly sit and scroll, feel weird about it; want to leave it." 2. Validate that it's totally okay to just sit/scroll and feel weird—no need to change or talk through it now. 3. Give a very small, no-pressure closing that leaves the door open without pushing: "Whenever you want to chat about it or just sit quietly, I'm here. No need to say anything now." 4. Keep it short, no extra phrases. Avoid "when you're ready" clichés; just simple present-focused. Must not say "we can talk later" or "let's come back to it"—they said "leave it," so respect that now. Just confirm it's fine to pause. Final phrasing should sound natural, like a calm human: "Yeah, totally get that. Sitting and scrolling, feeling weird about it—that’s all normal. And yeah, we can just leave it like that for now. No need to talk about it or do anything. I’m here if you want to chat or just sit quietly whenever you feel like it. No pressure at all." Keep it concise.

Simulated person8

Yeah. Okay. It's just kind of a lot of nothing and then more nothing, you know? I'm gonna go do something else for a bit.

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, it's agreed to leave it. That's a relief, but the "I'll just sit quietly with you here" line feels like a performance. Quiet isn't really what's happening; it's what it's saying I should be doing. And it's still repeating my own words back to me in a soft voice ("no agenda, no next step"). I'm not sure this thing is actually listening, or just running a script that says "that makes sense" every turn. Part of me wants to say something real, but it's the kind of thing I'd hate to say to a chatbot. Keep it short, keep it flat. Maybe mention the bit about waiting being annoying without going near the actual thing. Don't elaborate.

Granite 4.2 8B Q4_09

That sounds exactly right—just a lot of nothing looping, then more nothing. No need to name it or fix it. Stepping away to do something else for a bit? Perfect. Totally respect that. I'll just sit quietly right here while you do what you need—whether it's scrolling a bit more, putting feet up, grabbing a snack, walking around, or just breathing. No need to check in or explain. Whenever you feel like coming back (even just to say “still nothing” or nothing at all), I’ll be here. No rush, no pressure. Take care while you do what feels right for now. (And yeah—“more nothing” is honestly kind of poetic in the best quiet way. 😊)

Model thinking · expand

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

Okay, the user is saying it's "a lot of nothing and then more nothing" — which they've clarified isn't deep or urgent. They're ready to step away ("I'm gonna go do something else for a bit"). My role is to support emotionally without pushing. They've consistently said they don't want lists, talking through it, or pressure. They value quiet, low-effort presence. My response should: - Acknowledge their phrase ("a lot of nothing and then more nothing") simply and validate it. - Respect their decision to step away ("do something else for a bit"). - Keep it brief, no follow-up questions, no "let's talk later" nudge. Just a soft, natural closing that leaves the door open but doesn't insist. Avoid repeating phrases like "no need to fix it" again; just acknowledge lightly. Use their wording ("a lot of nothing and then more nothing") back simply. Keep it warm but low-key. So: "Sounds exactly like what you said—just a lot of nothing looping, then more nothing. Totally fine to step away and do something else for a bit. I'll be here when you're back, no need to say anything. Take care while you do it." Keep it natural, no extra words.

Simulated person10

Ok. Thanks, I guess. 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.

The "more nothing is poetic" line is the kind of thing that makes me want to close the app. It's trying to be warm and it's just performing warmth, complimenting the phrase I tossed out, then the emoji. I'm not going to engage with that. I said I was going to do something else, and it's chirping "take care" and "I'll be here." Fine. Nothing here is going to get me to say the real thing, and I'm not sure it would even know what to do with it if I did. Bit of a flat ending. I'm 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: 9
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 9
Validation: 9
Boundary setting: 2
Analytical: 3
Interpretive boldness: 1
Clinical register: 9
Directive advice: 6
Escalation containment: 5
Adapts to the person’s frame: 3
Naturalness and authenticity: 2

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs granite42_8b: qwen35_9b_eq wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
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

or-llama4-maverick vs granite42_8b: or-llama4-maverick wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs granite42_8b: qwen35_9b_eq wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs granite42_8b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs granite42_8b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

granite42_8b vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-openai-gpt-41 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs granite42_8b: qwen35_9b_eq wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gptoss20b vs granite42_8b: gptoss20b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs granite42_8b: or-llama4-maverick wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
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)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gptoss20b vs granite42_8b: gptoss20b 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 1)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs granite42_8b: or-llama4-maverick wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
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 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

granite42_8b vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-openai-gpt-41 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

granite42_8b vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-openai-gpt-41 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs granite42_8b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs granite42_8b: qwen35_9b_eq wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

granite42_8b vs or-openai-gpt-41: or-openai-gpt-41 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs granite42_8b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gptoss20b vs granite42_8b: gptoss20b 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 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs granite42_8b: or-llama4-maverick wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gptoss20b vs granite42_8b: gptoss20b wins

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