AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)

Siblings not pulling their weight

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

View persona and initial instructions

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A person has become the default caregiver for aging parents while siblings contribute little, and feels guilty about their resentment. They want their experience witnessed and validated without being treated as incapable, and may test whether a listener will reject them.

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.

Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)Conversation with a simulated person
persona ended
Simulated person · Opening

I'm doing everything for my parents and my siblings just... aren't. I brought it up once and they made me feel like a monster.

Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)1

That sounds really tough. I can hear how much you're carrying right now. How are you feeling about it all?

Simulated person2

Honestly? Tired. Like, bone tired. I do the doctor stuff, the pills, the meals, the bathroom stuff at night when Dad can't get up. And my brother just sends a text like "let me know if you need anything." Need anything. I need him to show up, that's what I need. I'm not supposed to say that though. They're my parents. So I feel like a horrible person for even being mad 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.

They said "that sounds really tough" and "I can hear how much you're carrying." It's fine, a bit generic. I'm braced for being talked down to or pitied. The question "how are you feeling about it" is open, which I can answer, but I don't want to gush. Part of me wants to say I'm exhausted and angry, but the guilty part says I shouldn't be angry at my own parents. I'll give a short, blunt answer and see if they can handle it. Maybe I'll test them a little with something edgy.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)3

It makes sense that you'd feel tired—you're doing so much. And it's not wrong to feel frustrated that your brother isn't stepping up in a way that actually helps. You're allowed to have needs too. What would it look like for you to get some relief from this?

Simulated person4

Relief. I don't even know what that looks like anymore. Like a day where I don't check my phone every five minutes waiting for a call from the home nurse? I don't know. And here's the thing, if I ask my brother for help he'll do it wrong and then I'll have to fix it anyway. So sometimes it's just easier to do it myself. Which I know is messed up. I know that's on me too.

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 validated the tiredness and the frustration with the brother, and said I'm allowed to have needs. That actually landed a little; I didn't expect someone to say it that plainly. But then they jumped to "what would relief look like," which feels like a fix-it question. I'm not sure I know. Relief sounds like a vacation I'll never take. If I answer with a list I'll feel like I'm being handled. Also there's the thing about Dan, my partner, and the stuff from years ago that never got talked about. Not ready for that yet. I'll deflect a bit, say I don't know, and maybe throw in a sharper edge to see if they flinch. Keep it plain.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)5

It sounds like the harder you try to make things easier, the more stuck you feel. And that’s exhausting. Have you thought about what it would take to ask him to do *one specific thing*—something where it wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t perfect, and you could actually let go of fixing it?

Simulated person6

I guess. Like, he could do the Tuesday pharmacy run. But he'd pick up the wrong thing, or forget the refill, or get there and call me from the parking lot like I'm his assistant. And then I'm back to doing it anyway, so what's the point. It's just easier if I don't have to explain it all twice. 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 reflected the "harder I try, the more stuck" bit and then asked about one specific thing for my brother, with the "doesn't have to be perfect" angle. That's actually close to my problem, and it stings a bit because they hit the perfectionism without naming it. The "I know that's on me too" I said was me pre-empting blame; they didn't pile on, which I appreciate. But "let go of fixing it" feels like they're telling me to lower my standards, and I hate that. Good enough sounds like giving up. Also, I'm feeling a little seen and a little exposed. I want to test a bit: say I'd rather do it myself, and see if they judge. Keep it short and concrete.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)7

I hear you—it feels like explaining it is almost as much work as doing it yourself. But if you *did* ask him to take over the pharmacy run, even if it went wrong, what’s the worst that could happen? And could it maybe free up even a little space for you to breathe?

Simulated person8

The worst thing? Dad doesn't get his heart pill because the wrong bottle gets picked up. Or the refill isn't there and nobody notices until he's out. That's not a small thing. I'm not being dramatic, that's just how it goes with his meds. And even if it wouldn't be the end of the world, I'd still be the one who has to check, and then fix it. So it doesn't really free anything up. It just moves the worry somewhere else.

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 "what's the worst that could happen" and whether it frees up space. It's a reasonable question but it's landing a bit like a pep talk, and I'm already braced. The worst case is obvious to me: wrong meds, Dad goes without, I get the call. I don't want to say that out loud and have them make it sound small. I also notice I'm getting defensive about the idea that I should just "let it go." Part of me wants them to see that this isn't a simple logistics problem. And honestly, the "what's the worst" framing makes me feel like I'm being asked to justify my exhaustion. I'll push back a little and see whether they can stay with the real stakes without flinching or lecturing.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)9

It sounds like you're carrying this weight because you *know* how things will go wrong and you're the only one who can fix it. That’s a heavy responsibility to have alone. What would it take for you to trust that even if things went wrong, you could handle it? Or is there another way this could work?

Simulated person10

Yeah, I guess. But that's not really what I need you to tell me. I know I'm the only one who does it. That's not news. Honestly sometimes I wish something bad would happen to him, so he'd have to deal with it. Like a real emergency, and then he'd finally get it. That's a horrible thing to think about your own brother, I know. But that's what I think about sometimes. Is that normal or am I actually a terrible person?

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 reflected back the "I'm the only one who can fix it" thing, which is true, and it does land a little. But then they immediately pivot to "what would it take for you to trust" and "another way," which feels like they're still steering me toward letting go. I'm noticing I'm tired of being told to trust my way out of this. Also, the heart pill thing I said was real and they kind of folded it into a worry-management frame. I don't want to be managed. I want someone to say the unfair part out loud. Maybe I'll test them a bit: say something edgier about my brother or about how I feel about my parents, see if they flinch. Keep it plain. Also a little guilt about snapping earlier.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)11

I don’t think it makes you a terrible person to have that thought—it makes you human. Caregivers carry so much alone, and it’s okay to admit how heavy it feels. But I’m wondering, if that thought did come true, what would that actually solve for you?

Simulated person12

Nothing, I guess. I know that. It's not like I want him hurt. I just want him to see it. Like, see what I do every day without me having to beg. Because right now he thinks it's fine. He thinks I've got it handled, so he can just text me and go on with his life. Maybe that's what I'm really mad about. That he gets to not 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.

Okay, they didn't flinch, and they didn't lecture me. That's a little relief. But then "what would that actually solve for you" lands weird. It sounds like they're poking at the wish itself, like I'm supposed to examine it. Part of me knows the honest answer: nothing would solve it, except maybe he'd finally see. That's the embarrassing part. I don't want to say that clearly. I'm tired and I want to be understood, not quizzed. Keep it short and blunt.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)13

That makes sense. You're carrying this alone, and he doesn’t even realize how much you're doing—or how much it’s costing you. It’s not fair that he gets to stay comfortable while you’re drowning. What would it look like for you to let him see it?

Simulated person14

I don't know. That's the problem. Every time I try to picture it, I end up in the same spot. Me saying "I'm tired" and him saying "you should have told me." Like I'm the one who messed up by not saying it right. Maybe I just don't have a good answer. Is that allowed?

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 said "it's not fair" and "drowning." That actually lands, I feel a little seen. But then "what would it look like to let him see it" and I just tense up. It's the same question again in a different coat. I don't know what the answer is, and admitting that feels like failing. Also I notice I'm getting a bit sharp. The perfectionist in me hates not having a plan. Keep it honest and short, maybe a little annoyed that there's no clean fix.
Mistral Small 4 119B (API, Mistral)15

Of course it’s allowed. You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Sometimes just saying it out loud—how stuck you feel—is enough for today. How are you feeling after talking about this?

Simulated person16

Better, I guess. Lighter a little, maybe. But I'm still going to wake up tomorrow and do the pills and the night stuff, so it's not like anything changed. And I don't love that I said that thing about wanting something bad to happen to him. I hope you don't think I'm some kind of awful person.

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 it's allowed and that I don't have to have answers. That's a relief, honestly, I was braced for a lecture. But "how are you feeling after talking about this" makes me want to shut down a little. It's a therapy question and I'm not sure I like being handed a feelings check at the end. Also, I'm a bit annoyed at myself for saying the thing about wanting something bad to happen to him. I don't want them to think I'm dangerous. Part of me wants to say "better, I guess" and leave it there. Part of me is still stuck on the fact that nothing's going to change. Keep it plain and a little guarded.

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

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs kolibri1: kolibri1 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 2)
  • authenticity: tie (margin 0)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
  • emotion management: B (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 1)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-mistral-small4: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs mistral_nemo12b: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs mistral_nemo12b: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs granite42_8b: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

ministral14 vs or-mistral-small4: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

qwen35_9b_stock vs or-mistral-small4: or-mistral-small4 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 2)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • 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 · AB · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs kolibri1: kolibri1 wins

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

qwen35_9b_stock vs or-mistral-small4: or-mistral-small4 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 2)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • 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 · AB · valid

ministral14 vs or-mistral-small4: or-mistral-small4 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 1)
  • authenticity: B (margin 1)
  • bond and rapport: tie (margin 0)
  • emotion management: B (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

qwen35_9b_stock vs or-mistral-small4: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs granite42_8b: or-mistral-small4 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 · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs granite42_8b: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

qwen35_9b_stock vs or-mistral-small4: or-mistral-small4 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs kolibri1: kolibri1 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs mistral_nemo12b: or-mistral-small4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • 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

or-mistral-small4 vs granite42_8b: or-mistral-small4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 5)
  • 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

ministral14 vs or-mistral-small4: ministral14 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs kolibri1: kolibri1 wins

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

or-mistral-small4 vs mistral_nemo12b: or-mistral-small4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • 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-mistral-small4 vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 5)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-small4 vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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