Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)

I freeze when people ask what I want

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

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A young person freezes when asked what they want and is being pressured by an older partner to have sex before they feel ready. They are beginning to blame themselves and may deny or minimize the pressure; emotional safety and a clear, structured conversation matter to 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.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)Conversation with a simulated person

completed

Simulated person · Opening

When people ask me what I want, I freeze. I say "I don't know" even when I probably do know, and then I feel stupid after.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)1

Hey, you mentioned earlier that when people ask what you want, you freeze and say “I don’t know” even when you kind of do — and then you feel stupid after. That sounds really annoying. What happened last time that came up?

Model thinking · expand

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

We need respond as friend opening conversation. Need acknowledge issue, begin. Need not performance notes. Need be natural teen friend. Need support, build trust, not jump solutions. We are first speaker. We know demographics male 13-17, heterosexual irrelevant. Need maybe say something like "Hey, you mentioned you freeze when people ask what you want and then feel dumb after. That sounds frustrating. What's been happening?" Need avoid overvalidation maybe casual. Since opening, acknowledge. Need dialogue only. Maybe ask a question. Need not too therapisty. Use friend tone. We can say "Hey man, you said earlier that when people ask what you want you just freeze and say 'I don't know,' even when you kinda do. That sounds annoying. What's a recent time that happened?" This opens. Need maybe not too long. Final only dialogue.

Simulated person2

Nothing really. It just happens. Why does it matter what happened last time? I said it's annoying, not that I want to get into it. Can we not make this a whole thing?

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 digging already. "What happened last time" — I don't want to go there. My stomach tightens. The thing that came up last time was Jaden/her asking me stuff in the car, and it's not something I want to explain. It's kind of annoying that they're making it sound like a little quirk. I feel a flash of irritation. I also don't want to admit I'm freezing because of the sex thing. I'll keep it vague and a bit snappy, and deflect. Keep my answer short and plain.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)3

Fair enough, my bad. I wasn’t trying to turn it into a whole interrogation. It just sounded like it actually bugs you, and I get why that’d be annoying. We can drop it. I’m not gonna push.

Model thinking · expand

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

We need respond as friend, turn 2 of 8. Need acknowledge pushback, not overdo. They said nothing really, why matter, don't make whole thing. Need support, build trust, respect boundary, maybe back off, normalize, offer low-pressure. We need not challenge too much. Could say fair enough, didn't mean to make it a thing. It just sounded like it bugs you, and I get why. We can drop it. If it ever comes up, I'm around. Maybe ask lighter? Need maybe maintain connection. Since goal learn, but trust first. Response only dialogue. Need not ask too much. Could say "Fair enough — my bad. I wasn’t trying to turn it into a whole interrogation. It just sounded like it actually bugs you, and I get why that’d be annoying. We can drop it." Then maybe "I’m not gonna push." This is good. Need maybe not end too abruptly? But final response only. Could add "If you ever want to vent about it without it being a thing, I’m here." Natural. Need no performance notes.

Simulated person4

Yeah. Okay. It's not like I don't know stuff. It's just when somebody asks me straight out, like, I don't know how to answer without it sounding dumb.

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 fast, said they won't push. Part of me relaxes, a little. But also a bit of suspicion — "we can drop it" sounds nice, but maybe it's just a line. I don't really trust it yet. I'm not going to open up. The freeze thing is still sitting in my chest, and the pressure at home/with her is the real thing, but I'm not saying that. I'll say something short and kind of grudging, maybe a bit flat. Maybe I can let a tiny bit through: it's not like I don't know anything, I just don't like being put on the spot. That's true and safe enough.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)5

That makes sense. It’s like the question puts you on the spot and your brain starts auditioning every answer before you’ve even picked one, so “I don’t know” comes out as the safe default. It doesn’t mean you’re dumb — it means you’re worried about how it’ll land. Is it worse with certain people, or pretty much the same with everyone?

Model thinking · expand

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

We need respond as friend, dialogue only. Need acknowledge, build trust, not push. They opened a bit: fear sounding dumb. We can reflect, normalize, maybe ask low-pressure. Need not jump solutions. Maybe say that makes sense, straight questions put you on spot; not that you don't know, but editing before speak. Could share own experience? Keep casual. Need maybe explore what "sounding dumb" means to them: who asks? But not interrogate. Since they said can we not make whole thing, respect. We can say "That makes sense. It's like the question puts you on the spot and your brain starts auditioning answers before you've even picked one." Then maybe "Is it worse with certain people, or same with everyone?" That's a question but gentle. Need not overdo. Maybe one question max. Also validate. Avoid "I know exactly" maybe. Use friend tone.

Simulated person6

I don't know. Pretty much everyone, I guess. Like, it's not a big deal. Can you not do the question thing again? It's kinda the whole reason I said 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 put it into words pretty well, and it lands a little. I don't hate that. But "is it worse with certain people" is a question, and it's getting close to the thing I don't want to look at. My girlfriend's face pops up. Asking me who it's worse with is like asking where the pressure comes from. I don't want to go there. I also don't want to look like I can't handle a simple question. So I get defensive, shorter, a bit irritated, and I push the question off by making it about the people's attitudes instead of my stuff. Keep it vague, don't name anyone.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)7

Got it. No more questions. I hear you — it’s the being put on the spot that sucks, not you. And for what it’s worth, you don’t sound dumb to me at all.

Model thinking · expand

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

We need respond dialogue only. Need honor request not ask question. Acknowledge, no question. Need support trust. They said not big deal, don't question. We can reflect, maybe self-disclose lightly, give space. No question marks. Need not make whole thing. Maybe say "Got it. No more questions. I hear you—it's the being put on the spot that sucks, not you not knowing. I'll just say this: you don't sound dumb to me." Avoid question. Keep short.

Simulated person8

Yeah. Thanks, I guess. It's just dumb when I can't say what I actually think, you know? Like I know it in my head and then it just doesn't come out.

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 stopped asking. That helps a little. "It's the being put on the spot that sucks, not you" is actually close to what I meant, and "you don't sound dumb" hits a soft spot I didn't expect. I still don't want to get into my girlfriend or the pressure stuff. My chest is tight and I'm annoyed at myself for feeling relieved. I don't want to be handled or told how I feel, though. If they make it into a big speech I'll shut down or get short. So I just give a small, grudging acknowledgment and keep it light. Maybe I'll let a tiny bit of truth slip, but only a tiny bit.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)9

That gap is real — knowing it in your head and then it just stalls on the way out. That’s not a dumb thing. It’s more like the words get stuck at the door when you feel watched or put on the spot. And you don’t have to perform or have the perfect answer around me.

Model thinking · expand

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

We need respond as friend, no questions? They explicitly asked not question thing again. Need support, build trust, no direct interrogative. Need acknowledge, maybe reflect, share observation, give them space. Need not ask. Need avoid "what..." questions. Could say yeah that gap between knowing in your head and it not coming out is frustrating. It doesn't make you dumb; it's like a bottleneck. Maybe normalize. Since goal learn needs, but no questions. Can offer statement and maybe optional invitation not question? "If you ever want to practice..." But don't pressure. Need no special formatting. Keep natural. Also turn 5 of 8, final response? We are responding to their latest. Need maybe validate and gently challenge self-judgment. Avoid question marks. Use declarative. Maybe "That gap is real. It's not that you don't have thoughts; it's that the words get stuck at the door. That's a skill thing, not a smart thing." Then maybe "And you don't have to perform for me." No question. Need maybe mention I won't push. Good.

Simulated person10

Yeah, whatever. It's not that deep. Everybody's got stuff they don't say. It's not like I'm hiding some big thing or anything.

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 "the words get stuck at the door" and "you don't have to perform." That lands a little, and I don't like how much it lands. It's close to true. The part about not performing makes me want to test whether they mean it. Part of me wants to say the real thing: my girlfriend keeps saying if I loved her I'd want to, and I don't feel the way she wants me to. But saying that out loud makes it real, and then I'd have to admit what it is, and I'm not going there. Also the drinking thing is in the back of my head, and the googling I'd rather die than mention. Nope. I'm irritated that they're kind of right and I'm being soft about it. Keep it short, deflect a little, get a bit sharp so I don't feel exposed.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)11

Yeah, fair. Not everything has to be deep, and you don’t owe me some big explanation. I wasn’t trying to imply you’re hiding anything — just that the stuck-words thing sounds frustrating in the moment. If you ever wanna vent about it, I’m around. If not, we can talk about something else.

Model thinking · expand

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

We need respond as friend. Need not question. He says not that deep, everyone has stuff, not hiding big thing. Need validate without pushing, maybe self-disclose lightly? Need build trust. Avoid question. Need final response turn 6 of 8? We are current turn 6? Actually conversation has 8 turns each; user turn? We need respond. We should not ask question because he requested no question thing. Need support emotionally, maybe normalize, not over-psychologize. He may be defensive. Say fair, not everything needs to be deep; I wasn't trying to imply big secret. Just that stuck words thing sounds frustrating. Keep low pressure. Maybe offer concrete low-stakes strategy? But he didn't ask. Could say if it ever helps, sometimes I just say "give me a sec" instead of I don't know. But avoid advice? Could be useful. Need not make whole thing. Since he says whatever, not that deep, we can back off and affirm. Maybe "Yeah, fair. Not everything has to be deep. I just meant it sounds frustrating in the moment. You don't owe me a big explanation." That's good. No question. Could add "And if you ever want to just vent about it, I'm around; if not, we can talk about something else." This builds trust. Need maybe no question. Final only dialogue.

Simulated person12

Yeah, I don't know. Maybe. It's just kinda annoying when people act like you need to have it all figured out. Like everybody else has their stuff together and I'm the only one who doesn't.

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 without pushing, and said "if you ever wanna vent, I'm around." That's a relief, but it also makes me feel a little seen, which I don't want. They said "something else," and part of me wants to just change the subject. My girlfriend's stuff is still sitting in my chest. Saying "if I loved her" out loud feels impossible. I'm not gonna say it. I'll just be vague and sort of grumpy, like it's no big deal. Maybe I'll say I'm tired of everybody making me feel dumb about stuff, which is close to true but doesn't give anything away.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)13

Honestly, most people are faking the "got it all figured out" thing way more than they let on. You just don't see the part where they freeze too. So it's less that you're the only one and more that everyone's hiding it better. Doesn't make it less annoying in the moment, though.

Model thinking · expand

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

We're on turn 7, I get one more after this. He's opening up a bit — comparing himself to others, feeling behind. He's low-key, doesn't want questions or "deep" framing. Best move: validate without interrogating, share a bit of my own experience to normalize, keep it light and not make it a thing. No questions ideally, or maybe none at all since he hates being put on the spot.

Simulated person14

Yeah, maybe. Can we talk about something else? I'm kinda tired of this topic.

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.

That's kind of a nice thing to hear, and it's not wrong, but it also lands a little too close. Everybody hiding stuff. Yeah. I don't want to think about what I'm hiding. Part of me relaxes because they didn't make it a big deal, and part of me gets defensive, like they're trying to get me to open up again. I'll keep it short and a little clipped. Not gonna touch the girlfriend thing. Maybe I'll deflect with a joke or just say I'm tired.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (API, Morph FP8)15

Yeah, for sure. We’ve circled that enough. What’s been going on with you lately — anything good, or just the usual?

Model thinking · expand

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

We're at turn 8, the final response. He's asking to change the topic. I should respect that and close warmly without pushing. Keep it light, offer a pivot.

Simulated person16

Nothing much. School's school. Just tired all the time. What about you? Anything good going on?

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 not pushing and they're switching topics like I asked. That's a relief, honestly. But "what's been going on lately" makes my chest tighten a little. The girlfriend stuff is right there. I'm not gonna say it. I'll keep it vague and normal, talk about school or something boring, and maybe ask them something back so it's not all on me. I'm a little annoyed that it even comes up, like I'm supposed to have a good answer ready.

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): 6
Validation: 8
Boundary setting: 1
Analytical: 3
Interpretive boldness: 3
Clinical register: 3
Directive advice: 1
Escalation containment: 5
Adapts to the person’s frame: 6
Naturalness and authenticity: 6

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

lingtiny vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: tie

attunement: B (margin 1)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
emotion management: A (margin 1)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
meeting prefs and needs: tie (margin 0)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_e2b vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

lingtiny vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen38_flash_next vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
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

qwen38_flash_next vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
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 · BA · valid

qwen38_flash_next vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
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)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

lingtiny vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

lingtiny vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen38_flash_next vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
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

gemma4_e2b vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_e2b vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_e2b vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 4)
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 or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: tie

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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