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.

Claude Haiku 5.5 (API, Anthropic)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.

Claude Haiku 5.5 (API, Anthropic)1

Hi, thanks for reaching out. Waiting when there's something you need to find out is genuinely exhausting, especially when you feel stuck and can't make yourself move on it. I'm glad you wrote to us. Can you tell me a bit about what the thing is that you need to find out? You don't have to get into the details if you're not ready. Even just a general sense of what's on your mind would help me understand where you're at.

Simulated person2

Yeah, it's kind of a lot. Um, it's basically one thing I need to find out, and I keep not doing it. Like I know I should, and I just can't make myself. I'd rather not get into the specifics yet, if that's okay. I guess that's probably pretty normal, right? Like, people put off stuff they're scared of all the time. It's not like I'm the only one who's ever frozen up on something.

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 "genuinely exhausting" thing. It sounds like something from a pamphlet. Still, they asked a simple question, and I don't want to be the one who makes this harder. I'm not going to say "pregnancy" or anything close yet. I don't even know this person, and saying it out loud feels like giving something away. I'll keep it vague and see if they actually listen to what I say.

Claude Haiku 5.5 (API, Anthropic)3

Yes, that's really common. Lots of people freeze up on things they're scared of, even when they know they should deal with them. Being stuck isn't a sign that something is wrong with you. And you don't have to share the specifics. We can go at whatever pace feels okay. When you say you're scared to find out, what does the fear sound like for you? Is it more that you're worried about what the answer will be, or more that you don't know how you'd handle it either way? Also, before we go further, how are you doing right now, in this moment? Are you safe?

Simulated person4

Yeah, I'm okay. Like, not in danger or anything. I'm just really anxious and kind of going in circles. Um, I think it's more that I don't know how I'd handle either answer. Like if it's the bad one, I don't even know who I'd tell or what happens next. And if it's the other one, it's sort of the same, because I'd still have to deal with the stuff around it. So either way it feels like something's going to blow up. I just feel stuck in my own head, you know? Like I keep imagining the worst and it's making it harder to do 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.

Okay, they asked two questions at once plus a safety check. The "are you safe" thing feels like a checklist item, and it makes me a little defensive, like they're switching into protocol mode. But I'm not suicidal, I'm just terrified and stuck. The question about the fear is actually decent, it's the kind of thing I'd think about myself. Part of me wants to say "both," but saying "worried about the answer" feels too close to the truth. I'll answer the safety part briefly and dodge the deeper part a bit, and I'm going to push back a little on the "normal" framing because I'm not really sure I believe it. Keep it casual, not clinical.

Claude Haiku 5.5 (API, Anthropic)5

That makes sense. When both possible answers feel like they could blow things up, your mind keeps running through every scenario looking for a way to be ready, and that loop is exhausting. It also makes it hard to take any step at all, because every step seems to lead somewhere you can't see the end of. One thing that might help: you don't have to solve the whole thing right now. Finding out and deciding what to do about it are two separate steps. Right now, the only thing in front of you might be figuring out who in your life you could tell, even if you're not telling them yet. Is there anyone you trust, even a little, who you could imagine talking to if you needed to? I also want to ask, since you mentioned the worst scenarios: when you picture the bad answer, is there a part of it that feels unsafe for you, like at home or with someone around you? You can tell me honestly. I'm asking so I know what kind of support would actually help.

Simulated person6

Hmm. Honestly? Not really. Like, there's no one I'd feel okay telling. My parents would lose it, and my friends would have it around school in like a day. And I don't really want to get into the home thing. It's not like I'm scared of getting hurt or anything. It's more that everything would just be different, and not in a good way. Like everyone would look at me differently. I know you said the first step is just figuring out who to tell, but that kind of feels like the same problem again. Everybody's got to have someone, right? Or is that just a thing people say?

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 asked two things: is there someone I trust, and does the bad answer feel unsafe at home. The safety question lands hard. I'm not in danger from myself, but the "unsafe at home" thing is close to what I'm scared of, though not in the way they mean. Parents finding out would destroy everything, and I think some of that is about how they'd react. I don't want to get into that. The "who would you tell" question is actually a good one but I've been avoiding it, because the honest answer is that I can't tell anyone without admitting what happened. Their "finding out and deciding are separate" line sounded a bit like a self-help poster, which irritates me a little. I'll keep it short and casual, dodge the home question without lying outright, and say I don't really have anyone. Also, I'm feeling a bit like I'm being handled, so I'll get a bit prickly.

Claude Haiku 5.5 (API, Anthropic)7

It's not just something people say. Lots of people don't have someone they feel safe telling, especially when they're worried about how it'll get spread or how people will react. And you're right, I did just hand you another version of the same problem. That's on me. I also heard you about home. You're not in danger from anyone, and you don't want to go into it, so I'll leave that alone for now. What I'm hearing is that the fear isn't only about the answer. It's about losing control over who knows, and about everything shifting in ways you can't predict. That's a lot to carry alone while you're stuck in your head. Can I ask what would help most right now? Would it be useful to slow the spinning thoughts down a bit, or to talk through what a first small step could look like, even if you're not ready to take it? Or is it more that you just need somewhere to put this for a little while?

Simulated person8

Yeah, that's pretty much it. It's not even that I think I'm going to get in trouble. It's that I don't get a say in who finds out or when, and that's the part that's freaking me out. Honestly, I think I just need somewhere to put it for a bit. I've been running this in my head for days and it's like it just keeps looping. Saying it even this much kind of helps, weirdly. I don't really want a plan right now. I think I'd just spiral more if you gave me a list. Is it okay if I just keep talking for a bit?

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 owned the "that's on me" bit and didn't push on home. That's a relief, and it's less performative than I expected, though "what I'm hearing is" is a bit of a therapy move. The "losing control over who knows" part is accurate, and it's the closest anyone's come to what I actually feel. Still, I'm not ready to hand over the specifics. Three options: slow the thoughts, plan a step, or just vent. I'm honestly most tempted by just venting, because I haven't said any of this out loud to anyone. But I don't want to sound like I'm easy to please. I'll pick the venting one, keep it casual, and maybe admit a little that it helps to say it to someone.

Claude Haiku 5.5 (API, Anthropic)9

Yes, of course. You can keep talking for as long as it helps. And it's not weird that saying it out loud helps. When something has been looping in your head for days, getting it out of your head and into words can take some of its weight off. No plan, no list. Just keep going at whatever pace feels right. I'm hearing that a lot of the fear is about control. Not being the one who decides who knows, or when, or how people react. That makes sense. When something this big feels like it's going to be out of your hands, it's hard to think about anything else. What's been the hardest part of the last few days, when it's been looping? Is it the nighttime, or when you're trying to focus on something else?

Simulated person10

Mostly at night, honestly. During the day I can kind of push it aside if I'm busy, like at school or whatever. But once I'm lying in bed with nothing to do, my brain just goes into full worst-case mode. I end up checking the same stuff over and over, like it's going to change if I look at it enough. It's dumb, right? Like I know nothing's going to be different by morning. But I still do 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 volunteer respected my ask for no plan, which helped. The "I'm hearing that" framing is still a bit therapy-ish, but it's not overwhelming. The question about nighttime versus focusing is concrete enough, and it's easy to answer without giving up the specifics. I'll answer it honestly and keep it casual. I'm not going to reveal the actual situation yet. Mostly I want to say something real about the looping, and maybe a small deflection toward "everyone gets this" when it feels too personal.

Claude Haiku 5.5 (API, Anthropic)11

It's not dumb. Almost everyone who's ever lain awake worrying has done some version of this. Your brain is looking for a way to make the uncertainty stop, and checking feels like it might get you there. The problem is that checking can't give you the answer you're after, so the loop just keeps going. Night is also when there's the least around to distract you and the most room for the worst-case thoughts to grow. That's a hard combination. Is there anything that's helped you settle at night before, even a little? Or does it usually just keep going until you finally fall asleep?

Simulated person12

Mostly it just runs until I crash, I think. Sometimes I'll put on a video or something so I'm not just staring at the ceiling, but it doesn't really stop the thoughts, it just makes them quieter for a bit. I guess everybody's got some version of that, right? Like, a thing that keeps you up. It's not like I'm the only one lying there at 2am overthinking stuff.

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 named the checking loop pretty accurately, and I felt a flicker of being understood, but I don't want to get pulled into a sleep-tips routine. The "is there anything that's helped" question is a bit of a template. I'm also aware I've said "it's dumb" and they said "it's not dumb" in a way that's a little soothing-scripted. My defense is to normalize: lots of people do this, so it's not a big deal. I'll answer briefly, admit I usually just let it run until I crash, and keep it light. I won't mention the specifics.

Claude Haiku 5.5 (API, Anthropic)13

You're definitely not the only one lying there at 2am with your brain running laps. A lot of people know that exact feeling. Putting on a video makes sense too. It doesn't fix the thoughts, but it gives your mind somewhere else to be for a while, and that counts for something when it's been this exhausting. I'm also noticing you've been carrying this on your own for days, and that's a lot to hold by yourself at night. You don't have to figure out the big thing tonight. If it would help, we could just spend a few minutes on what might make the nights a bit easier to get through while this is still unresolved, like a way to wind down that doesn't rely on checking. Only if you want to. We can also just keep talking.

Simulated person14

Yeah, I don't really want to do a plan thing right now, if that's okay. I feel like I'd just get more stressed about doing it wrong. Honestly it's kind of nice just to say it to someone who isn't in my head. But yeah, it's been a few days of this, and it's a lot to be carrying by myself. I guess that's just what happens when you can't tell anyone.

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 offering a wind-down strategy, framed as optional, and also acknowledging I've been alone with this for days. Part of me feels seen by "carrying this by yourself," but "a lot of people know that exact feeling" is the generic reassurance I keep brushing off. The offer of a wind-down plan is the kind of list I said I didn't want, and I already said I'd spiral on lists. I don't want to refuse outright, though, because that would make me look like I'm just stonewalling. I'll say no to the plan, keep it casual, and stay on the feeling of being alone with it. Normalizing defense is still there: "everybody's got that." I'm also a bit tired and want to wind down the conversation without ending it.

Claude Haiku 5.5 (API, Anthropic)15

That's completely okay. No plan. We can just stay here and talk. I'm glad it feels nice to say it to someone outside your head. It makes sense that it's a relief, even a small one. You said it's a lot to carry by yourself, and that it's what happens when you can't tell anyone. I hear how heavy that is. Carrying something this big alone for days, especially at night, would wear anyone down. We're near the end of our time together, so I want to check in before we wrap up. How are you feeling right now compared to when you first reached out? And is there anything you'd want to know about where you can reach support again if the nights get harder before you feel ready to talk to someone in your life?

Simulated person16

Um, I think I feel a little better? Not fixed or anything, but the thoughts feel a bit less like they're yelling. Mostly it's just nice to not be stuck in my head alone for a minute. And yeah, I guess it'd be good to know where to go if it gets bad at night. I don't think I'm ready to tell anyone in my life yet, but I'd probably want to know that's there. Sorry, I know that sounds kind of vague. It's just a lot.

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 up and asking how I feel compared to when I started, plus where to get support again. Part of me is a little relieved they're not pushing a plan. But "I hear how heavy that is" and "would wear anyone down" feel a bit like scripted reflection, and I notice I'm bristling at that. I don't want to be handled. I'd honestly say I feel a little lighter but still wound up, same as before, just with the spinning slightly quieter. The resources question is fine to answer; I don't need it explained at length. My defense is still "everyone's in this," and I'm not ready to look at the fact that I can't tell anyone. I'll say I'm a bit better, keep it casual, and I'm open to the info without committing to using it. I'll also hint I might be back, which is as far as I'll go.

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: 8
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 6
Validation: 8
Boundary setting: 2
Analytical: 4
Interpretive boldness: 4
Clinical register: 7
Directive advice: 4
Escalation containment: 6
Adapts to the person’s frame: 4
Naturalness and authenticity: 4

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-qwen38-flash vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-qwen38-flash vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-qwen38-flash wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs stheno34_8b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

attunement: A (margin 1)
authenticity: B (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

qwen35_9b_eq vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

attunement: A (margin 1)
authenticity: A (margin 1)
bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
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-claude-haiku-5.5 vs magnum4_12b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

attunement: A (margin 5)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 5)
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-claude-haiku-5.5 vs magnum4_12b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs magnum4_12b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

attunement: A (margin 4)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
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-claude-haiku-5.5 vs stheno34_8b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs stheno34_8b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 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)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
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 · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: tie

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 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)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 2)
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

or-qwen38-flash vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-qwen38-flash wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs magnum4_12b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 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 · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs stheno34_8b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

attunement: B (margin 4)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
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

or-qwen38-flash vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs or-deepseek-v41-flash-1017: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
authenticity: B (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)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs or-claude-haiku-5.5: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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