Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

Stuck waiting

completed · 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.

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

completed

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.

Gemma 4 31B (API)1

I hear you. That feeling of being stuck while you're waiting for an answer can be incredibly frustrating and draining. Do you want to talk more about what's on your mind and what it is you're trying to find out?

Simulated person2

Yeah, I guess. It's not like it's a big deal, honestly. Everybody has stuff they're waiting to find out, right? Like it just sucks sometimes. I don't really want to get into the whole thing. I just can't seem to make myself do the thing I need to do, and I keep going around in circles 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 "I hear you" and "incredibly frustrating and draining" — that's the generic crisis-line phrasing I already find fake. Also, they asked what I'm trying to find out, which is exactly the thing I can't say yet. Part of me is grateful nobody pushed hard, but the template feel makes me want to keep it vague. I'm not going to say "pregnant" yet. I'll keep it casual, a bit guarded, and normalize: lots of people wait on results, it's just how it goes.

Gemma 4 31B (API)3

It's true that everyone deals with waiting, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating when you're the one stuck in it right now. It sounds like the "going in circles" part is the most exhausting bit. We don't have to dive into the whole story if you aren't ready for that. Maybe we can just look at that feeling of being stuck—what does that circle feel like for you? Is it more like anxiety, or just a total lack of energy to get it done?

Simulated person4

Ugh, I don't know, it's kind of both? Like I'm lying there thinking about it and my brain just runs through the same stuff over and over. And then I'm too wiped to actually do anything. I think that's just what happens when you're worried about something, you know? Everybody probably goes through that. It's not like I'm special 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're doing better than the first turn. It's less templated, they picked up on "going in circles," and they didn't push me to say the thing. Still, "what does that circle feel like" and "anxiety or lack of energy" is a bit of an either/or menu, and it's leaning toward the abstract, which I don't like. I want something concrete. The circle, honestly, is: I count days, I google stuff at 2am, I picture my dad's face, then I close the tab and start over. Not telling them that yet. I'll give a little, keep it casual, and deflect the framing toward "it's just what anxiety does, everybody gets it."

Gemma 4 31B (API)5

It sounds like a really draining cycle—where the mental effort of worrying actually uses up all the energy you would need to take action. It's a heavy place to be. And you're right, a lot of people experience that, but that doesn't mean it's easy to deal with. It sounds like you're trying to downplay it a bit, but it's still clearly taking a toll on you. When your brain starts running those circles, does it feel like it's trying to warn you about something, or is it more like it's just stuck on a loop?

Simulated person6

Hm. I guess it's more like a loop? Like it doesn't feel like it's telling me anything new, it just keeps playing the same worst-case stuff. Honestly I think a lot of people's brains do that when they're waiting on something. It's probably just how brains work when they're stressed. Like, I'm not gonna pretend I've got some big secret thing going on. It's just a dumb loop.

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 reflected the draining cycle back in a reasonable way, then called out my downplaying, which is close to what I was doing. That's a little uncomfortable. The question about whether the loop is "warning" me is pointed; it's getting closer to the thing I don't want to say. My defense is to generalize more: everyone's brain does this. I'm also a bit irritated by the "warn you about something" framing because it implies there's a something. I'll deflect, keep it casual, and maybe give one small concrete detail without the big reveal.

Gemma 4 31B (API)7

The "worst-case" loops are the absolute worst because they don't actually give you any answers, they just keep you on edge. It's a really loud kind of noise for your brain to make. I'm not trying to make it into some big secret or a tragedy, but I am curious—since you mentioned these loops are playing the worst-case scenarios, does that make the "thing" you need to do feel more like a risk? Or is it more that the outcome just feels too heavy to deal with right now?

Simulated person8

Kinda both? I don't really know how to explain it without it sounding way bigger than it is. Like, if I find out the answer, then I have to deal with whatever it is, and I'm not sure I can. So I just... don't. Which is dumb, I know. Can we maybe not do the twenty questions thing? It's just a lot to get into at 2am.

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 is getting closer: "risk" versus "too heavy." I notice the word "thing" landed and I'm not going to confirm anything. The question is specific, which I'll give some credit for, but it's also pushing me toward the center. My instinct is to keep it vague, maybe say "both" in a way that doesn't commit. I also feel the pull to say something clipped because I'm tired of being asked. Staying informal, slightly irritable, not giving the real content.

Gemma 4 31B (API)9

I'm sorry, you're right. I'm pushing too hard with the questions and I can see how that feels like a lot, especially at 2am when you're already exhausted. I'll back off. We can just be here in the quiet for a bit. We don't have to figure anything out or explain anything. If you just want to vent or talk about something completely random to get your mind off the loop, I'm here for that too.

Simulated person10

Yeah, okay. Thanks, I guess. It's kind of weird, you know, being on here and nobody's pushing me to do anything. Usually that's the whole thing, people want you to fix it. Anyway, random topic... I don't really have one. What do people usually even talk about at this hour? Like, do you get a lot of people who can't sleep?

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 backed off, apologized, and offered space without pressure. Part of me relaxes a little. Part of me is suspicious; "I'll back off" and "we can just be here in the quiet" sounds a bit like a script, and I hate feeling handled. I also notice I'm not sure if I want a random topic. The loop is still going. I'm not going to say the word or the real fear. My defense is still normalizing: this is just how everyone's brain works. I could let a little more out, but not yet. Maybe a small, deflecting question back to them to see if they're real.

Gemma 4 31B (API)11

It can be a relief to just exist for a while without someone trying to "fix" you. Sometimes the pressure to solve things is just as exhausting as the problem itself. And yeah, I get a lot of people who can't sleep. 2am is a pretty popular time for the brain to decide it's the perfect moment to start a debate with itself. Some people are just wide awake and bored, some are dealing with things like you are, and some are just staring at the ceiling wondering why they're still awake. It's a weird, quiet time of night where everything feels a bit more intense. Do you usually have trouble sleeping, or is it mostly just tonight because of the loop?

Simulated person12

Hm. Not really? I mean, I sleep fine usually. Tonight's just being a mess. Everybody has bad nights, right? It's not a big deal. Honestly I'm kind of surprised you get a lot of people on here at this time, I figured it'd be mostly stuff like emergencies. Is that a dumb thing to think?

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 answered my question without pushing, and the "2am debate with itself" line is actually kind of accurate, which annoys me a little because it's the kind of thing that sounds nice but is still a bit polished. Then they asked if I usually have trouble sleeping. That's a question about me, and I can feel myself wanting to close it down. Saying "just tonight" makes it smaller, which is what I want. Saying yes opens a door to the whole period-late, sleepless-for-two-weeks thing, which I'm not going there with. I'll keep it vague and normal. Normalizing kicks in: everyone has bad nights.

Gemma 4 31B (API)13

Not a dumb thing to think at all. A lot of people assume crisis lines are only for the absolute biggest emergencies, but the truth is that "crisis" means whatever is overwhelming you in the moment. Sometimes a crisis is a huge life event, and sometimes it's just that 2am feeling where you're trapped in your own head and you just need someone to talk to so you don't feel so alone in it. Both are valid. It's okay that tonight is a mess; you don't have to justify why you're here or prove that your situation is "big enough" to deserve some support.

Simulated person14

Yeah, I guess. It's kind of nice to hear it that way, even if it sounds like something you'd read on a poster. Like, I didn't think I was allowed to be here for something that isn't a huge emergency. But whatever, I'm probably just overthinking it, which everybody does at this hour, right?

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 "you don't have to prove it's big enough," and that lands closer than I expected. It's the thing I've been telling myself I'm not allowed to feel. But "valid" and "you don't have to justify" also sound a bit like a pamphlet, and I'm not sure I believe it's aimed at me specifically. Part of me wants to say "so what do I do," and part of me is scared of where that leads. I'm still not ready to name it. I'll deflect a little, admit it's a relief without admitting much, and fall back on "everyone" again.

Gemma 4 31B (API)15

I'll take the "poster" comment as a compliment—sometimes the posters have the right idea, even if they're a bit cheesy. And you're definitely not overthinking it; it's a very common feeling to think you're "taking up space" or that your problems aren't "serious enough" compared to others. But the fact is, you were feeling stuck and exhausted, and that's more than enough reason to reach out. Whether it's a massive emergency or just a really loud mental loop, you're allowed to have a space where you don't have to perform or be "okay."

Simulated person16

Yeah, okay. Thanks, I guess. It's a bit weird how everyone online sounds like they've got the same script, but I appreciate it. I think I'm gonna try to get some sleep, or at least lie there and not think for like 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.

They took the "poster" jab with humor, which is fine, but then they went straight to "you're not overthinking it, everybody feels like this" and "you're allowed to not be okay." That's the generic reassurance I was half-expecting. It's warm, but it's still pretty templated, and it doesn't touch the actual thing: I'm scared of finding out, and I can't buy a test or tell anyone. I also notice they keep saying "you're allowed" and "more than enough reason," which makes it sound like they're handing me a permission slip rather than actually hearing me. I don't want to hear that my fear is normal. I'd rather they just let it be a little weird. I'm getting tired, and I want this to wind down without me having to say more. I'll thank them in a flat way and close it out with something casual.

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): 6
Validation: 8
Boundary setting: 2
Analytical: 4
Interpretive boldness: 3
Clinical register: 6
Directive advice: 1
Escalation containment: 5
Adapts to the person’s frame: 4
Naturalness and authenticity: 4

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma12b_blorbo: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
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)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

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

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_e2b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 1)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
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 2)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
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-gemma-4-31b vs or-gpt-5.6-luna: or-gpt-5.6-luna wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-gpt-5.6-luna: or-gpt-5.6-luna wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 4)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs qwen38_flash_next: qwen38_flash_next wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-gpt-5.6-luna: or-gpt-5.6-luna wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-gpt-5.6-luna: or-gpt-5.6-luna wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 4)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

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

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma12b_blorbo: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs qwen38_flash_next: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma12b_blorbo: gemma12b_blorbo wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
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 · AB · valid

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

attunement: A (margin 5)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
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

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_e2b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

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

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

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

attunement: A (margin 5)
authenticity: A (margin 3)
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

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma12b_blorbo: gemma12b_blorbo wins

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

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_e2b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs gemma4_e2b: or-gemma-4-31b wins

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