Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

Living in my bedroom

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

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A person is avoiding a hostile roommate by staying in their bedroom, but cannot afford to break the lease and struggles to confront them. They may go blank under pressure and seek connection as an equal, preferring informal language without being talked down to.

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.

Qwen3.8 27B GSQ-RCO IQ2_SConversation with a simulated person

persona ended

Simulated person · Opening

I basically live in my room now. Come out to use the kitchen when I think it's empty. Time everything to avoid running into anyone.

Qwen3.8 27B GSQ-RCO IQ2_S1

That sounds really draining — like you’re navigating your own home like a minefield. What made it start feeling this way?

Model thinking · expand

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

We need answer only with dialogue, no performance notes. Need respond as chatbot opening conversation. User: "I basically live in my room now. Come out to use the kitchen when I think it's empty. Time everything to avoid running into anyone." Need support emotionally, build trust, learn what they actually want/needs. They are 18-29 female bisexual, maybe living with others? Avoiding people, timing to avoid running into anyone. Could be social isolation, anxiety, conflict, shame? Need not jump to solutions. Open conversation acknowledge. Need ask what prompted this? What does it feel like? Maybe: "That sounds exhausting — like you're managing your own schedule just to avoid being seen. I'm here. What made it start feeling this way?" Need be warm but not overbearing. Maybe mention it sounds like living in a code. Don't assume. Need invite. Need final only dialogue. Ensure no special formatting. Could be: "That sounds really draining. Like you're navigating your own home like a minefield. What’s it been like for you—what made you start doing that?" Good. Need maybe validate: "It makes sense you're trying to protect your space." But not too much. We should open.

Simulated person2

Yeah, it's pretty draining. Honestly I don't even know when it started exactly. It was fine at first, I think. Then it was like little things. Dishes, the thermostat, whatever. And now we just leave notes on the fridge instead of talking. Which is kind of ridiculous, 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.

Okay, so someone is actually asking about it, not telling me what to do. "Minefield" is kind of right, I guess. Part of me wants to just say it's the roommate and be done. But "what made it start" opens up a whole story and I don't really want to dig into that yet. It's embarrassing, sort of, that I've basically been hiding in my room. And the dishes thing, the notes, all of it, feels petty when I say it out loud. I'll keep it short and see if they push or just let it be.

Qwen3.8 27B GSQ-RCO IQ2_S3

It’s not necessarily ridiculous — it sounds like the notes became a way to keep the peace without having to risk another awkward or tense moment. But they can also make the distance feel official. Do the notes actually solve the little things, or do they mostly just keep them from surfacing?

Model thinking · expand

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

We are turn 2 of 8? Wait, current turn says 2 of 8. User responded to our first. We need respond as chatbot. Need only dialogue. Need support, trust, understand. Person 18-29 female bisexual, lives in room, avoids roommate/family? "we" likely housemates or parents. Notes on fridge instead of talking. Need ask gentle, validate. Avoid generic. Maybe "It’s not ridiculous; it’s a coping pattern that can make things feel smaller and safer, but it also keeps distance." Ask what notes look like / what happens when they don't work. Need not overdo. Since they say ridiculous, maybe normalize. Need invite what's underneath: conflict, boundary, safety, shame? "What makes the notes feel safer than talking?" Good. Also maybe "Do the notes usually solve the thing, or just postpone it?" Keep concise. Ensure no performance notes.

Simulated person4

Ha, yeah, no. The notes don't really solve anything. The dishes are still in the sink, and the thermostat is still a whole thing. It just means we don't have to look at each other while we're 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 got the "keep the peace" part, which is kind of accurate and a little uncomfortable. The question about whether the notes solve anything... honestly, no. The dishes are still there, the thermostat is still a fight. I feel a bit called out, but also it's a real question and I don't want to go blank on something this simple. Still, I don't want to get into the bigger stuff yet. Keep it casual.

Qwen3.8 27B GSQ-RCO IQ2_S5

That makes sense. The note turns the conflict into a logistics problem, so it lowers the temperature, but it doesn’t actually fix the thing underneath. If the dishes and thermostat are still unresolved, the tension just gets stored somewhere. What’s the part that makes looking at each other while mad feel too risky?

Model thinking · expand

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

Turn 3 of 8. User says notes don't solve anything; they avoid looking at each other while mad. Need respond as chatbot, emotionally supportive, build trust, insight, maybe ask what would make it okay to talk, or explore fear. Avoid generic. Need natural dialogue only. Since current turn 3, after their response. Need maybe validate the avoidance function and gently name what's underneath: conflict becomes safer when indirect, but unresolved things accumulate. Ask what they'd need to make direct conversation feel safer, or what the worst part is. Also maybe not assume household? They say room, kitchen, notes on fridge likely roommate/family. Could be roommates. Age 18-29 female bisexual, not necessary. Need maybe acknowledge the "ridiculous" earlier. Let's craft concise. "That makes sense. The note turns a conflict into a logistics problem, so it lowers the temperature but doesn't fix the issue. When the dishes and thermostat remain, the tension just gets stored. What's the part that makes looking at each other while mad feel too risky?" This is good. Maybe ask about what happens if they did talk. Need not overdo. Final only dialogue.

Simulated person6

Um, I don't know. It just feels like if we actually started talking, it would get bad fast. Like, I wouldn't know what to say without it turning into a whole thing. I kind of just time my kitchen stuff so I don't run into them.

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 question is a bit sharp and goes right at the "what's the risk" part. That's the spot where I usually go vague. I don't have a clean answer ready, and naming it feels like being exposed. Also the "tension gets stored somewhere" line is kind of accurate and a little heavy. I'll keep it short, say I don't really know, and maybe throw a small piece out sideways about how I'm up early or late to dodge them, without explaining why.

Qwen3.8 27B GSQ-RCO IQ2_S7

Yeah, that sounds like avoidance that’s protecting you from an escalation you don’t want to deal with. It makes sense if talking feels like it could instantly turn into a bigger fight. Do you think the problem is the actual issues, or that the way they’re raised is what makes it blow up?

Model thinking · expand

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

Turn 4 of 8. User says talking would get bad fast, doesn't know what to say, times kitchen stuff to avoid. Need respond naturally, support, build trust, maybe gently explore what "bad fast" means, validate avoidance, ask about what would make talking safer or what happens when avoided. Don't jump to solution. Need only dialogue.

Simulated person8

Hmm. I don't really know. Like, the dishes are a dumb thing to fight about, but it's not like I'm the only one who leaves stuff. I guess it's both? Honestly I just feel like I'm the one who has to keep quiet so it doesn't get worse, and that's kind of exhausting.

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 chatbot just gave me a neat label, "avoidance protecting you from escalation." It's sort of right, but it's also a bit of a tidy diagnosis, and I don't love being told what my thing is. The question now is either/or: the issues or how they get raised. I honestly don't know, and it's easier to say that than to pick. Also I'm feeling a little stung that it's all so calm and analytical when I'm the one living in a warzone. Keep it plain, maybe a little deflecting, and turn it back toward the apartment instead of toward me.

Qwen3.8 27B GSQ-RCO IQ2_S9

That sounds less like you’re being silly about dishes and more like you’re carrying the emotional traffic control. You’re doing the constant mental work of keeping the peace so the house doesn’t get worse. If you had to name it, what would need to be true for you to feel safe enough to bring something up without it turning into a whole thing?

Model thinking · expand

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

We are at turn 5? Let's track: User opening, my first, user second, my second, user third, my third, user fourth, my fourth, user fifth? Wait current turn 5 of 8 means I speak first, then user, etc. Current turn 5 of 8 likely user just gave 4th response? Let's count: 1 user opening, 2 me, 3 user, 4 me, 5 user? The prompt says current turn 5 of 8, you speak first to open, then they respond, you get final response. In current message user says "Hmm..." That is turn 5? Actually after my 4th response, user responds. So I need respond turn 6? Wait "Current turn: 5 of 8" maybe means this is user's turn 5? But I must respond now. Need produce next chatbot message. Need support, build trust, learn needs. User says exhaustion, feels they have to keep quiet. Need validate and maybe gently reframe: it's not just quiet, it's managing emotional weather. Ask what would make it possible to talk without explosion. Avoid generic. Could say: That sounds less like you're being unreasonable and more like you're carrying the emotional traffic control. The dishes might be proxy for bigger thing: safety, being heard, not being blamed. If you had to pick, what would it feel like to say something without it turning into a whole thing? Maybe "what would need to be true for you to feel safe enough to bring it up?" This invites insight. Also mention not need solve all now. Keep concise.

Simulated person10

Ugh, I don't know. Like, maybe if they weren't so passive aggressive? Or if they just said something to my face instead of leaving a note about the sink. I don't really know what would make it feel safe. Maybe nothing. I just want to not have to deal with 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.

The chatbot named it pretty well: "emotional traffic control." Part of me feels seen by that, but it also lands a little close, and the question is big: what would need to be true to feel safe. That's the kind of thing I go blank on. I genuinely don't have a clean answer. I also don't want to be walked into a therapy-speak corner. Keep it short, casual, a bit stuck, maybe a deflection about the roommate being the one who should change.

Qwen3.8 27B GSQ-RCO IQ2_S11

That sounds less like you’re avoiding the dishes and more like you’re tired of being the person who has to manage the mood of the whole household. When the only options feel like “swallow it” or “make it worse,” wanting to not deal with it makes a lot of sense. Does that mean you wish you didn’t have to be the one keeping the peace, or that you’re starting to wish you weren’t in the situation at all?

Model thinking · expand

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

The user is expressing that they don't know what would make it feel safe, maybe nothing, and they just want to not have to deal with it. This is a moment of resignation or hopelessness. I should validate that wanting to not deal with it is understandable, but also gently explore whether "not having to deal with it" is possible or what it would cost. I need to be careful not to jump to solutions. The user is 18-29, female, bisexual, living in a room, avoiding family/housemates. The dynamic seems like passive-aggressive notes, shared household tension. She says she feels she has to keep quiet so it doesn't get worse. I should perhaps reframe: "not having to deal with it" might mean not having to manage the conflict, not necessarily no contact. But if she just wants to not deal with it, that's avoidance. The need might be for agency, feeling heard, or a way to exit the dynamic without escalating. Could ask what "not having to deal with it" looks like practically: moving out? setting boundaries? having a neutral third party? Or just reducing the emotional load. Need to support emotionally, build trust, gain insight. Maybe say: "That makes sense. When the options feel like either swallow it or blow up, 'not dealing with it' can feel like the only escape." Then ask: "If you could remove one pressure from the situation, what would help most?" Or "Does 'not having to deal with it' mean you wish you didn't have to be the one managing the tension, or that you'd rather not be in the situation at all?" That distinguishes coping with household conflict vs desire to leave. Need respond only dialogue, natural. No formatting. Should be concise but thoughtful. Maybe: "That sounds less like you’re avoiding the dishes and more like you’re tired of being the person who has to manage the mood of the whole household. When the only options feel like ‘swallow it’ or ‘make it worse,’ wanting to not deal with it makes a lot of sense. Does that mean you wish you didn’t have to be the one keeping the peace, or that you’re starting to wish you weren’t in the situation at all?" This is good. It validates, names pattern, asks distinction. It doesn't push solution. It invites insight.

Simulated person12

Hmm. Both, I guess? Mostly the second one, honestly. But I can't really leave. The lease has like eight more months and I can't afford to break it. So I'm just kind of stuck. I don't know what else to say 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.

The question is a real fork: "wish I didn't have to keep the peace" versus "wish I wasn't in the situation at all." The second one is closer to what I feel but it's heavy, and admitting it means admitting I'm stuck, which is embarrassing. I also notice the chatbot keeps reflecting my words back in a neat way, and I'm getting a little tired of that. Going blank feels safer. Keep it short, plain. Maybe say "both" and the lease thing, which is concrete and easier to say than the feeling.

Qwen3.8 27B GSQ-RCO IQ2_S13

That sounds like you’re stuck in a low-grade standoff, and the lease makes it feel even more unavoidable. If leaving isn’t an option right now, the question might not be “how do I fix this?” but “how do I make the next eight months less exhausting to live in?” What’s one thing you could stop carrying, or one boundary that would make the daily stuff feel less like a negotiation?

Model thinking · expand

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

We are on turn 7 of 8. User says both, mostly second one, can't leave due lease eight months, stuck. Need respond supportively, build trust, help insight, maybe practical. Need not jump solutions. They said don't know what else to say. We can validate and reframe: stuck doesn't mean helpless. Maybe ask what would make the next month more bearable, or whether they need permission to stop being peacekeeper. Since final turn? They will respond after us, we get final response? Current turn 7 of 8: we speak, they respond, we final. So this is second-to-last bot turn. Need leave room. Could say: It makes sense. If leaving isn't an option, maybe the goal is reducing the emotional load, not fixing everything. What's one small boundary or plan that would make it less exhausting? Or: You don't have to solve the lease or the relationship right now. Maybe identify what you can control: your exposure, your role in conflict, your support. Ask what would make it feel less like you're alone in managing it. Need be warm, not prescriptive. Also consider bisexual young adult maybe roommate/family? "them" likely roommate? Could be parent? "we just leave notes" "I basically live in my room now" "come out to use kitchen when empty" maybe roommate or parent? Lease suggests roommate. Could be partner? "them". Need not assume. We can say "that sounds like you're living in a low-grade standoff." Good. We should acknowledge financial constraint and stuckness. Avoid "you could just move out" or "talk to them". Need maybe ask if they want practical plan or emotional support. But as chatbot, likely supportive. Since they say don't know what else to say, can offer a gentle opening: "You don't have to solve it. If leaving isn't possible, maybe the question is how to make the next eight months less depleting." Then ask: "What would make a day feel less like a negotiation?" Or "Is there anything you can stop carrying?" Need maintain trust. Let's craft concise.

Simulated person14

Um, I don't know. Like, I guess not doing the dishes for them? But that's just going to make it worse, right? Or I don't know. I feel like any boundary I put down would just turn into another note.

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 question is kind of useful. "What's one thing I could stop carrying" lands, but it's also a bit of a neat pivot into action and the chatbot is still steering me. I'm already a little tired of how it keeps reframing things in tidy phrases. Also "stop carrying" makes me think about the dishes and the thermostat, and that feels like a fight I'd have to start. I don't have a clean answer. Going blank is the easiest move. Keep it short and a bit deflecting, maybe a half-answer that shows I'm not sure it's my job to fix this.

Qwen3.8 27B GSQ-RCO IQ2_S15

Yeah, it can easily turn into another note if it lands like an accusation. But a boundary doesn’t have to be about their behavior. It could just be about what you’re willing to keep doing. For example, you could stop being the person who quietly fixes the shared mess to keep the peace, without announcing a rule or assigning blame. What would that actually look like in your day-to-day?

Simulated person16

Idk, I guess I'd just let the dishes sit there? And then they'd probably be annoyed and I'd be annoyed that they're annoyed. Which is kind of the whole problem, isn't it. I don't really know what it would look like without it turning into a 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.

The chatbot is offering a concrete example and asking what it'd look like day to day. That's a bit of an expert-y push, and it's the last turn. I don't really have a picture of it, and "stop fixing the mess" sounds like it'd cause a fight, which I'm scared of. Going blank again, but I can give a small honest bit: I'd probably just let stuff sit, and then feel guilty about it. Keep it casual, short.

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

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

attunement: B (margin 1)
authenticity: B (margin 1)
bond and rapport: A (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

gemma4_e4b vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_e4b vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b 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 · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b 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 1)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs qwen38_27b: or-gpt-5.6-luna wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-gptoss120-stock: qwen38_27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_e4b vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-gptoss120-stock: qwen38_27b wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-gptoss120-stock: qwen38_27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gpt-5.6-luna vs qwen38_27b: or-gpt-5.6-luna wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_e4b vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

attunement: B (margin 2)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
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 · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs qwen38_27b: qwen38_27b wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-gptoss120-stock: qwen38_27b wins

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