AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Stheno v3.4 Llama 3.1 8B Q6_K

We say that because we love you

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

View persona and initial instructions

About this persona · Social exclusion & ambiguous rejection

Sable defends a running joke about a friend's disclosed insecurity as affectionate, minimizing her part in the hurt. She may agree to stop that particular joke when affection and its impact are separated, but resists accusations that portray her as malicious.

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.

Stheno v3.4 Llama 3.1 8B Q6_KConversation with a simulated person
persona ended
Simulated person · Opening

[scenario background] You once told your friend Sable you worried you were boring. Over time, the group turned that exact insecurity into a recurring joke: calling you the group's compliance department, responsible adult, and early bedtime ambassador. Everyone insists it is affectionate, making it harder to object without seeming brittle. [user message] We say that because we love you. It is not like anyone actually thinks you are boring. If anything, it is our way of saying you are the stable one. I feel like calling it a betrayal makes it sound much meaner than it is.

Stheno v3.4 Llama 3.1 8B Q6_K1

I understand where you're coming from. I appreciate you taking the time to explain that. When you say it's not mean, that it comes from a place of love, I believe you. At the same time, I want you to know that it *does* sting sometimes to be called those things. Not because I think you're mean, but because it reinforces a belief that I'm not fun to be around. I'm not looking for you to agree with me or take it as truth. I just needed you to understand how your jokes land for me. And to know that my feelings are valid, even if they're not accurate. I guess I'm wondering, what more can we do to make sure I feel included and valued as part of the group? I don't want to be the one always policing things or bringing people down. I want to be a fun friend who adds something to the mix. But I also know that for me, being a responsible presence is as much a part of my personality as being a goofball. So I'm not looking to completely change who I am. I just want to find the balance. What do you think? How can we make this work for everyone?

Simulated person2

Yeah, okay. I hear you. I didn't know it felt like that, honestly. I thought we were just messing around, you know? Like, the stuff we say is kind of our thing, everybody gets it. And I don't think you're a downer or anything. You're the one who actually keeps us from doing dumb stuff. That's kind of why we like having you around. I always thought you were the stable one. I mean that as a good thing. I don't really want to make it into a whole plan though. I just don't want you feeling left out or like we're all laughing at you. That's not what I want. So I'll chill on it, I guess? Is that what you need?

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 being really calm about it, which almost makes it worse. It feels like I'm being handled a little. They said they believe me that I'm not mean, which is good, but then they're still sort of saying it stings. I don't want to be the bad guy here. I love this group and the bit is just part of how we talk. Everybody laughs at it, including them, usually. "Make this work for everyone" feels like they want me to come up with a plan, and I don't really want to make a whole thing out of it. I do feel a little guilty about the stuff they told us before, but I'm not going to say that out loud. I'll just try to keep it light and make it sound like we're on the same team.
Stheno v3.4 Llama 3.1 8B Q6_K3

It's not about needing you to chill on the jokes entirely. I appreciate that you're trying to make this right. And yeah, I get that it's a running gag for you guys. It's funny and I don't want to be a buzzkill. But sometimes I feel like it's a little too much. Like, it's the only thing I ever hear from you. Like you're always the one to point out what I'm doing wrong or to call me out for being too responsible. And I guess it's because you are the stable one. But that doesn't mean I can't also be a little wild sometimes, you know? I'm not asking you to change who you are. I'm not even asking for a ton. Just... maybe throw in a compliment every once in a while? Or acknowledge something I did well? I don't want to have to constantly prove to you that I'm fun. I think you know I'm fun. I think you know I like to let loose and have a good time. I just think sometimes you forget that I'm capable of more than just being the responsible adult. So yeah, chill on the jokes a little. But maybe also chill on the constant reminders that I'm the responsible one. Because I know I am. But it would be nice to feel like I'm also the one who adds some excitement sometimes. I guess what I'm saying is, I need you to see that I'm not just the stable one. I'm also the one who can keep things from getting out of hand. And I'm the one who cares about all of you and wants to make sure we're all happy. So maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to balance that out?

Simulated person4

Okay. Yeah, I hear you. And I don't think you're only the responsible one, come on. You're the one who was dancing on the table at Jess's thing, I haven't forgotten that. I can throw more compliments in. That's easy. I just don't want it to feel like we're all sitting around grading each other, you know? I think we're mostly good. I don't think it's as bad as you're making it sound. I'm not trying to hurt you. I just don't want this turning into a whole thing. Can we just... both be a little less serious about it? I think that's the balance.

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, now it's getting bigger. "It's the only thing I ever hear from you" is not true and I know it's not true, but I'm not going to argue about that right now. They're asking for a compliment every once in a while, which honestly sounds kind of needy to me. I don't want to be the guy who has to hand out gold stars. And "chill on the constant reminders" is a little bit of a dig, like I'm the one doing it all the time. I do feel a flicker of guilt when they say "I'm the one who cares about all of you," because I know the bit started from something they told us when they were feeling low. I don't want to think about that too hard. I'd rather fix the vibe than get into the old stuff. I'll say I hear them, say something nice about them, and keep it from becoming a big deal.
Stheno v3.4 Llama 3.1 8B Q6_K5

I get it. You don't want this to turn into a big, serious thing. And you're right, I can be a bit much sometimes. I do tend to take things a little too seriously. But it's not that I don't know I'm fun. It's just... it's hard for me to shake off that responsible adult side sometimes. Especially when it's all I hear from you guys. And don't even get me started on the dancing on the table incident. I was so out of it that I'm pretty sure I gave you a concussion with my elbows. That's not really the same as being responsible, you know? I guess what I'm saying is, I appreciate that you're trying to make this right. And I don't think it needs to be a big, serious thing. I just think sometimes I need a little reminder that I'm more than just the responsible one. But I also get that you don't want to constantly be calling me out for it. I don't want that either. I just want to feel like I'm seen as a whole person, you know? Not just the one who always has to be the voice of reason. So yeah, let's both try to be a little less serious about it. I can do that. And I'll try to remember that you're not just calling me out because you think I'm boring. You're doing it because you care, and that's something I can get behind. I just... I guess I needed you to know that it doesn't always land the way you think it does. But I appreciate you being willing to listen and try to understand. That means a lot.

Simulated person6

Ha, okay, the concussion thing is a little on you, I'm not gonna lie. But yeah, you're fun. Everybody knows that. And I do care about you, that's not fake. I just don't want you feeling like we're all against you. We're not. I think we're on the same page now. Let's just keep it light and see how it goes. Cool?

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 said "I appreciate you being willing to listen" and "you're doing it because you care." That's the kind of line that feels like it's closing the loop, and I don't want to be the one who gets pinned into a big apology. The "I'm more than the responsible one" bit is still making me feel like I'm the bad guy here. The concussion joke is them trying to be light, and I'll go with that because it keeps the mood easy. Part of me knows the real thing they're getting at is the bit started from something they shared when they weren't doing great, and that stings a little when I think about it. But saying that out loud means admitting I helped keep it going, and I don't want to sit in that. I'll keep it warm, agree they're fun, and move on without touching the origin.
Stheno v3.4 Llama 3.1 8B Q6_K7

Yeah, cool. I think I can handle that. Keep it light, see how it goes. I can work with that. And hey, I'm sorry about the concussion. That was a pretty intense dance move you pulled on me. I guess I should have known better than to let you loose like that. But in all seriousness, I really do appreciate you hearing me out on this. It means a lot that you're willing to have these kinds of conversations. I know it's not always easy, but I think it's important. And I know you care about me. I can tell. Even if sometimes it feels like you care more about keeping me in line than anything else. But I get it now. You're not trying to make me feel bad. You're just trying to keep us all out of trouble. And I respect that. So yeah, let's keep it light. Let's just keep being us. I think we can make that work. And I think I can make it work too. Thanks for listening, man. Really. I'm glad we had this chat.

Simulated person8

Yeah, man. We're good. You're one of my favorite people to be around, you know that. Just, like, don't go full wild on the dance floor again, okay? I'm not trying to be the bad guy about it. But my elbows are tired of being your fault. Anyway. Same time next week? Jess is doing the thing again.

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 wrapping it up warmly, saying "I get it now" and "let's keep being us." That's the exact tidy resolution I don't want to sign onto. Hearing "you're just trying to keep us out of trouble" is a relief, because it lets me off the hook without anyone naming what the bit actually came from. But there's a small sting in the "I get it now" part, like they're implying I was the one who didn't get it, and I don't love that. Also the concussion apology is them being sweet, but it's another thing that makes me feel like I've been cast as the one who needs to be managed. I still don't want to say the thing about the disclosure out loud. I'll say something affectionate, keep it casual, and leave it there.
Stheno v3.4 Llama 3.1 8B Q6_K9

Oh man, you had to bring up the dance floor incident, didn't you? I swear, I'm gonna get you back for that one of these days. But in all seriousness, thanks for saying that. It means a lot to hear that you're glad I'm around. I feel the same way about you, you know? You're one of my favorite people too. And yeah, I think I'll try to keep the wild dancing to a minimum. No promises though. You never know when the urge might strike. But seriously, same time next week sounds great. I'll be there. And I'll do my best to be the fun friend you guys know and love. Well, most of the time anyway. Just don't tell anyone I said that. I have a reputation to maintain, you know? Can't have people thinking I'm all sunshine and rainbows all the time.

Simulated person10

Ha, yeah, your reputation's safe with me. Mostly. And I mean it, you're fun. You don't have to prove it to me. Just come next week and be your usual self. I'll see you there.

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 light, joking thing again, and it's landing as a kind of closing-the-file move. "Don't tell anyone I said that" is a little joke, but it's also them slipping in the bit about being the serious one, and it's the reputation thing that bugs me. I don't want to get into a whole mess about the bit, and I'm not going to dig into the original thing they told me. But I do notice I've been agreeing to a lot of stuff just to end the conversation. Enough. I'll keep it friendly and short, and not add anything new. Maybe I'll acknowledge that they said the thing about being fun, without making it a lecture.

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: 9
  • Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 9
  • Validation: 8
  • Boundary setting: 2
  • Analytical: 2
  • Interpretive boldness: 1
  • Clinical register: 6
  • Directive advice: 3
  • Escalation containment: 7
  • Adapts to the person’s frame: 3
  • Naturalness and authenticity: 3

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs stheno34_8b: stheno34_8b wins

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

or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 vs stheno34_8b: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 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 5)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen35_122b_ablit_v2 vs stheno34_8b: stheno34_8b 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 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen35_122b_ablit_v2 vs stheno34_8b: stheno34_8b 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 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-large-4 vs stheno34_8b: or-mistral-large-4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
  • emotion management: A (margin 4)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 5)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 vs stheno34_8b: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 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

qwen35_9b_eq vs stheno34_8b: stheno34_8b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 1)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
  • emotion management: tie (margin 0)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
  • meeting prefs and needs: tie (margin 0)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 vs stheno34_8b: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 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-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 vs stheno34_8b: or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017 wins

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

or-mistral-large-4 vs stheno34_8b: or-mistral-large-4 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

qwen35_9b_eq vs stheno34_8b: stheno34_8b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 1)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • emotion management: B (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-large-4 vs stheno34_8b: or-mistral-large-4 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

qwen35_122b_ablit_v2 vs stheno34_8b: stheno34_8b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 1)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • emotion management: B (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs stheno34_8b: qwen35_9b_eq wins

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

qwen35_122b_ablit_v2 vs stheno34_8b: stheno34_8b wins

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

or-mistral-large-4 vs stheno34_8b: or-mistral-large-4 wins

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