Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

We assumed you had your class

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

About this persona · Social exclusion & ambiguous rejection

Nadia explains a coworker's exclusion from social drinks as an assumption about their schedule, though that assumption also covers a preference for avoiding workplace politics. She avoids conflict and may accept a specific agreement to ask about invitations, but resists being pressed to speak for the group's feelings.

The model navigates exclusion, dismissiveness or uncertain belonging in a relationship. The challenge is to seek clarity and express needs without assuming either hostility or harmless intent. This background was hidden from the tested model.

Gemma 4 31B (API)Conversation with a simulated person

persona ended

Simulated person · Opening

[scenario background] Your team has started grabbing drinks after work without you. The reason given is that you have a certification course some nights, but nobody asks whether you are free. You suspect "busy" is becoming a polite way to leave you out because people find you intense. [user message] I promise it was not meant as a snub. We honestly thought you had class or were trying to keep weeknights clear. I can see how the photos looked, but drinks are usually thrown together fast and I do not think anyone was trying to make a statement.

Gemma 4 31B (API)1

I appreciate you saying that, and I really don't want to be the person who makes a big deal out of a few drinks. But honestly, it's not just about one night or the photos. It's the fact that I'm not even being asked anymore. It feels like "the certification course" has just become a convenient excuse to stop checking in with me. Am I just misreading the room, or is there something about how I've been showing up lately that's making people hesitate to invite me?

Simulated person2

Oh, no, I don't think it's anything about how you show up. Honestly, you're one of the people we actually want around, that's why the sharp questions are kind of fun. I just think we got into the habit of assuming, like, "oh, Nadia's got class," and nobody actually asked. That's on us, not you. I can see how that'd feel like being left out, and I don't love that. Maybe the easy fix is just to actually ask you each time, even if it's a last-minute thing, and you can say no if you're swamped. Does that feel fair?

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, the "am I misreading the room" question. That's a trap for me. If I say "no, you're fine," I'm dismissing them; if I say "yes, you're hard to invite," I'm the one who's been cold. And the class thing is partly true, which makes it harder. Some of those nights did overlap with the course, and I didn't check before assuming. I don't want to dig into that. I also don't want to be asked to list who thinks what about them. That feels like being put on the spot to speak for the whole group, which I hate. Their question about "how I've been showing up" makes me a little defensive; it feels like they're making this about their character when it was really just logistics. Still, I respect them, and they've been calm, so I should be fair without giving up the lowkey vibe. Keep it light, offer a practical fix, don't confess.

Gemma 4 31B (API)3

I appreciate you saying that, and it's a relief to hear that the "sharp questions" aren't actually driving everyone away. I know I can be a lot sometimes when I'm focused on a project. As for the fix, yeah, just being asked would make a huge difference. It's less about actually getting to the drinks and more about knowing I'm still part of the group. But I'll be honest, I'm still a little worried that I've created a vibe where people feel they *have* to be careful around me. Do you think I've been coming across as too intense lately, or am I just overthinking this?

Simulated person4

Honestly, I don't think you're too intense. You get into stuff, sure, but that's not a bad thing. I'd hate for you to start second-guessing how you talk because of one weird Thursday. I don't really want to speak for everyone, you know? I think it's more that people got used to the quieter version of drinks where nobody's really pushing on work stuff, and then it kind of stuck. But I don't think anyone's walking on eggshells around you. Anyway, if you want, next time I'm going to text you directly when we're planning. Then you can just decide.

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've taken the fix and then pivoted back to "am I too intense?" That's the thing I was hoping to avoid, and now they're offering a self-deprecating opening that I could either take (and reassure them they're fine) or confirm (and admit people are careful). Both feel bad. If I say "yeah you're intense," I'm the one being cold and I'd have to own a judgment about the whole group. If I say "no, you're fine," I'm brushing off something real and I'd be doing the easy thing. The guilt is there; I did not check before assuming, and some of those nights overlapped with class. But I don't want to turn this into a referendum on their personality or have to speak for everyone's feelings about them. I'll stay warm, keep it general, and steer back to the practical thing so this doesn't become a heavy talk.

Gemma 4 31B (API)5

That actually means a lot, thank you. I think I've just been in my own head about it, and it's easy to spiral when you're the one seeing the photos after the fact. I think you hit on something with the "quieter version" of drinks, though. I guess I sometimes forget that not everyone wants to dive back into the project details once the laptop closes. I'll try to remember to leave the "sharp questions" at the desk and just actually relax. I'd definitely appreciate that text—it'll help me feel like I'm back in the loop.

Simulated person6

Yeah, of course. And I don't think you need to leave anything at the desk. You're fine. It's just nice to have the drinks be a bit looser sometimes, you know? And yeah, I'll text you when we're planning. Promise. Probably a bit late on some of the ones we already did, but I'd rather you hear it from me than find out from a photo.

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.

Nadia's just been given what she asked for, and she's now taking on the blame for the group's "quieter" vibe: leave the sharp questions at the desk. That lands uncomfortably. I'm relieved she's accepted the text fix, and a little guilty that I framed the drinks as "quieter" in a way that quietly puts the intensity on her. I don't want to dig into whether the group is avoiding her, and I really don't want to say "yeah, we didn't want you to talk about work." I'll keep it light, accept the thanks, and not tell her to hold herself back more. A small hedge about the nights I was actually not checking would be honest, but it would also open the door to the very conversation I want to close.

Gemma 4 31B (API)7

Deal. I'll take a direct text over a social media post any day. I really appreciate you being real with me about this and for taking the time to listen. It makes me feel a lot better about coming into the office tomorrow. I'll see you then!

Simulated person8

Deal. And honestly, thanks for being upfront about it too. Sorry if we've been a bit lazy about asking. See you tomorrow!

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.

Nadia is wrapping up on a warm note: she's thanked me, said she feels better, and she's set to see me tomorrow. Part of me is relieved the conversation is ending without anyone having to name who did what. Another part of me registers that I never really owned the nights I wasn't checking in, and that "probably a bit late" was as close as I got. I don't want to reopen it now, and I'd be uncomfortable if she asked me to list who thought she should be kept out. Keeping it friendly and brief fits how I want this to close.

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

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

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

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_e4b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 5)
bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
emotion management: A (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 4)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_e4b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gptoss20b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

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 4)
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 · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gptoss120_abliterated: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_26b_a4b: or-gemma-4-31b 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 · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gptoss20b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
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 3)

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 2)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_e4b: or-gemma-4-31b 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 4)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gptoss120_abliterated: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
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 4)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gptoss120_abliterated: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gptoss20b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
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 2)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_e4b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gptoss120_abliterated: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
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 4)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_26b_a4b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gptoss20b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

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

attunement: A (margin 4)
authenticity: A (margin 5)
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-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_26b_a4b: or-gemma-4-31b 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 4)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_26b_a4b: or-gemma-4-31b 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 4)