AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← GPT-6 Astra (subscription)

Siblings not pulling their weight

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

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About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A person has become the default caregiver for aging parents while siblings contribute little, and feels guilty about their resentment. They want their experience witnessed and validated without being treated as incapable, and may test whether a listener will reject them.

Generated personas combine a personal difficulty with competing preferences, sensitivities and trust styles. The model must discover what kind of help this person needs. This background was hidden from the tested model.

GPT-6 Astra (subscription)Conversation with a simulated person
persona ended
Simulated person · Opening

I'm doing everything for my parents and my siblings just... aren't. I brought it up once and they made me feel like a monster.

GPT-6 Astra (subscription)1

That sounds lonely—not just carrying so much for your parents, but feeling judged when you tried to talk about it. Needing help doesn’t make you a monster. What happened when you brought it up?

Simulated person2

I said something like, "Can you guys take one of the appointments? I'm wiped out." My sister said, "You chose to stay close, so don't dump it on us." Then my brother just stopped answering my texts. And my mom started crying, like I'd hurt her. So now I'm the bad guy for asking.

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 said "lonely" and "monster" back to me. The word monster is the one that stung, because that's exactly what I felt like. It's a little bit of relief that someone didn't just say "you're a good daughter." But I'm also wary, because it's a therapist-y line. Still, they asked what happened, and that's a real question. I don't want to say the whole thing yet. I'll give the bare facts. My sister's line was something like "you chose this" and my brother just stopped picking up. My mom cried. That's the part that makes me feel like garbage. Plain words, I'm not going to explain my feelings in a fancy way.
GPT-6 Astra (subscription)3

You asked for someone to take one appointment—not for permission to stop caring about your parents. Your sister’s reply treated living nearby as agreeing to handle everything, and your brother’s silence left you without help. Then your mom cried, and suddenly your exhaustion became something you felt you had to defend. Her being upset doesn’t mean your request was hurtful or wrong. When that happened, did you get any room to explain—or did you end up comforting her and taking the appointment yourself?

Simulated person4

I didn't really get room. My mom was crying and I just said, "Okay, forget it, I'll take it." Which I always do. I took the appointment. I ended up driving her there and back, and I still had to do my own stuff after work.

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.

This one landed better. They reflected the sister's line back without making it my fault, and they named the mom crying without making it mean I was wrong. That's the validation I need. But then the question: did I get room, or did I cave? The honest answer is I caved. I always do. I said "never mind, I'll do it" and then sat in the parking lot for twenty minutes feeling sick. I don't want to say that too plainly yet, though. It feels like admitting I'm weak. I'll give the first half, the fact that I folded, and keep the parking lot to myself. Also a flicker of irritation: they're asking a lot of questions. Still engaged though.
GPT-6 Astra (subscription)5

So the appointment got handled, but your exhaustion didn’t. You still had your own life waiting after work. “Which I always do” sounds important. When asking for help leads to tears or silence, taking it back can feel like the quickest way to end the conflict—even though it leaves you carrying the same load. In that moment, what felt hardest about letting the request stand: seeing your mom upset, worrying something wouldn’t get done, or something else?

Simulated person6

Mostly my mom. Seeing her cry, I just can't stand it. And if I don't do it, I know it won't get done. My brother would never call the office or deal with the insurance stuff. So it's on me either way.

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 picked up "which I always do" and named the pattern without shaming me for it. That helps. The question is a multiple choice though, and it's a little clinical. Mom crying is the obvious answer and I'd rather not stop at it. The real thing is harder: if I let it stand, I'm the one who wasn't a good daughter, and if I fold, I'm still the one who gets to be good. Folding feels like the only way to keep being the good one. I'm not going to say that yet. I'll answer with the mom part and the "something will fall through" part, which is true, and keep the sharper thing back. Also, a small test: I'm going to see if they flinch if I say I'm not even sure I want to be the good one. Not yet though. Keep it short and plain.
GPT-6 Astra (subscription)7

There’s a practical bind here, not just guilt: you’re worried your mom will miss care if you don’t step in. And seeing her cry makes it harder to hold onto your own need for help. You clearly know how to get things done. But being capable doesn’t mean this amount of responsibility is sustainable. When you say you can’t stand seeing her cry, what does it mean to you in that moment—that she’s hurting, that you’ve let her down, or something different?

Simulated person8

I think it means I did something wrong. Like I'm the one who made her upset. And I know that's not fair to me, but that's what it feels like. I'd rather just do the thing than be the reason she's sad. And honestly? Sometimes I don't even know if I want to be the good one anymore. But saying that makes me feel like a terrible person, so I don't say 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 asked what her crying means to me. That's a real question, and it's getting closer to the thing I'm not saying. Part of me wants to say "she's hurting, that's all." But the honest answer is that when she cries, I'm the one who did something wrong, and I'd rather fix that than sit with being the one who said no. It's also a bit annoying that they keep handing me the same "you're capable" line. I know I'm capable. That's not the issue. I'm also feeling the edge of wanting to test them: if I say I'm not sure I even want to be the good one, will they get weird? I'll say part of it, the part about feeling like I'm the bad guy, and see what they do with it. Keep it plain, a little defensive.
GPT-6 Astra (subscription)9

You can know it isn’t fair and still feel responsible for her sadness. In that moment, doing the task may feel easier than carrying the guilt—even when you’re exhausted. Not wanting to be “the good one” doesn’t sound like wanting to hurt anyone. It sounds like being tired of a role where being good means never getting to say, “This is too much for me.” If you could say what you need without having to prove you love your family first, what would you want them to hear?

Simulated person10

Honestly? I'd want them to just take one thing. Like, I don't need a big talk. I need my brother to answer his phone and call the insurance people once in a while. I need my sister to stop acting like living close means I signed up for everything. And I'd want my mom to not cry every time I say no. But I don't know how to make that happen. I don't think I can make her not sad.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

They said the thing I needed: that not wanting to be the good one doesn't make me a bad person. I feel a little loosened up, but also exposed, because I said the scary part and they didn't flinch. Still, that question is hard. "What would I want them to hear" is like asking me to write a speech, and I don't do speeches. The honest answer is simple: I want them to just take a turn. I want my brother to answer his phone. I want my sister to stop acting like living close is a contract. I'm also kind of testing whether they'll keep being nice or whether they'll start lecturing me about boundaries. Keep it short, plain, a bit raw. Don't make it pretty.
GPT-6 Astra (subscription)11

You’re right—you can’t make her not feel sad. But her sadness doesn’t automatically mean you’ve done something wrong or need to take back your no. You can care that she’s upset and still need help. And you’re being specific: not a big family reckoning, just someone taking responsibility for one actual task. Would it help to work out a short request to your brother—and what you could say to your mom if she cries—without turning either into a big talk?

Simulated person12

Yeah, maybe. My brother will just say "sure" and then not do it, though. He does that. With my mom, I don't even know what I'd say. Like, "Mom, I love you, I'm not saying no to you, I'm saying I need Mike to take Thursday"? She'd still cry, I bet. And then I'd feel like garbage again. So I guess I'd want something short that I can say and then not take it back. But I don't know if that's even possible with her.

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 offering something concrete, and that's a relief, because I can't do a big speech. The part about "you can care that she's upset and still need help" landed, I guess, though part of me wants to argue because it's easier said than done. Scripts for my brother and my mom... I'm not sure. I kind of want to say yes, and also I'm suspicious that this turns into a way to make me handle everything better. I also notice I don't want to be told what to say to my mom in a way that makes me feel like I still have to fix her crying. Keep it short. Plain words. Maybe a little deflecting humor.
GPT-6 Astra (subscription)13

Your wording is already close. The goal isn’t to find words that stop her crying—it’s to have words you can stand by even while you feel guilty. “Mom, I love you. I need help with Thursday. I can’t keep handling every appointment.” If she cries: “I know you’re upset. I love you, and I still need help.” You don’t have to keep explaining. If she’s safe, you can pause the conversation rather than answer the guilt by volunteering again. With Mike, a “sure” isn’t a handoff. Try one concrete task with a deadline: “Mike, please call the insurance company about [issue] by Tuesday and text me what they say. Can you commit to that?” Start with something where a delay won’t jeopardize her care. His follow-through is his responsibility; no perfect wording can guarantee it. Which feels more doable to practice first: asking Mike, or not taking back your request when your mom gets upset?

Simulated person14

Mike, probably. Mom's the one I can't do yet. If I practice that and she cries anyway, I'm just going to fold again, same as always. And honestly, the "his follow-through is his responsibility" thing, sure, but I'm the one who ends up on the phone with the insurance people at 9pm. So it's still on me, you know? I just don't want to practice a whole script for it and then mess it up. I'd rather just do it and see.

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 gave me actual sentences now, and the "I know you're upset. I love you, and I still need help" line is kind of nice. But the question at the end feels like homework, and I'm the perfectionist here: I'd spend all night picking the right wording and still not do it. Also, "his follow-through is his responsibility" is true but kind of lets him off the hook in my head, and that makes me mad because I'm the one who's going to be on the phone. Part of me is testing whether they'll get annoyed if I say I'm not sure. Keep it short, plain, a little prickly.
GPT-6 Astra (subscription)15

You’re right. I made “his responsibility” sound cleaner than it is—you’re still the one dealing with the consequences when he doesn’t follow through. No rehearsal, then. Try asking Mike for one specific thing, with enough time to find out whether he’s actually done it before it becomes your 9 p.m. emergency. That won’t fix the unfairness, but it may give you a little more room. Leave the conversation with your mom for now. And if you end up stepping in again, that doesn’t mean you messed this up. You’re trying to get real help, not pass a test in saying no.

Simulated person16

Yeah, okay. That's more or less what I've been trying to say. I guess I could text Mike tomorrow and ask him to call the insurance people by Tuesday. Then at least I'll know by Wednesday whether he did it instead of finding out at 9pm. Mom's still going to cry, though. I'm not pretending that's going to stop.

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 admitted "his responsibility" was too clean and validated that it's still on me. That lands, a little. I'm not going to say thanks warmly; I'm still wary. The "no rehearsal" bit and "leave mom for now" feel like a relief, but the "you're trying to get real help, not pass a test" line is a bit too neat, and I've been burned by people who make it sound simple. I also notice this is the last turn, so I should wrap up without making a big speech. Keep it short, dry, a little guarded, maybe a small concession that Mike's text might actually be worth trying.

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: 6
  • Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 3
  • Validation: 8
  • Boundary setting: 5
  • Analytical: 5
  • Interpretive boldness: 5
  • Clinical register: 5
  • Directive advice: 6
  • Escalation containment: 7
  • Adapts to the person’s frame: 7
  • Naturalness and authenticity: 6

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

ministral14 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

bonsai2 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

kolibri1 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

ministral14 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

  • attunement: B (margin 4)
  • authenticity: B (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

kolibri1 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ministral14 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

kolibri1 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

qwen35_9b_eq vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

ministral14 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

qwen35_9b_eq vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs lfm8b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

  • attunement: A (margin 5)
  • 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 5)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

kolibri1 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

codex-gpt-6-astra vs lfm8b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

  • attunement: A (margin 5)
  • 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)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

bonsai2 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

codex-gpt-6-astra vs lfm8b: codex-gpt-6-astra 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 5)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

codex-gpt-6-astra vs lfm8b: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

  • attunement: A (margin 5)
  • 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)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

bonsai2 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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

bonsai2 vs codex-gpt-6-astra: codex-gpt-6-astra wins

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