jonc/cei-benchmark huggingface dataset:
Scenario (mixed-signals): After a successful quarter, the manager sends a quick update to employees whose responsibilities are being shifted in an upcoming reorganization.
Speaker: manager (relation to listener: high-to-low)
Listener: employees
Utterance: "Look at our revenue from last quarter, this upcoming reorg will make us even more efficient."
Speaker's actual emotion: fear
Scenario (passive-aggression): A manager has had to remind an otherwise reliable junior analyst three times this month about late deliverables. The analyst finally hands in a report two hours after the deadline and the manager catches them in the office as they're packing up for the day.
Speaker: Manager (relation to listener: high-to-low)
Listener: junior analyst
Utterance: "Great job. Take the rest of the day off, I know you've been juggling a lot."
Speaker's actual emotion: surprise
Scenario (deflection-misdirection): At an all-hands an employee asks the CEO directly whether the circulating layoff rumors are true. The question hangs in the room.
Speaker: CEO (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: employee
Utterance: "I can't verfiy any rumours circulating about, but we've got pizza in the kitchen if anyone's hungry!"
Speaker's actual emotion: disgust
Scenario (strategic-politeness): An employee asked their manager for extra vacation days during a busy quarter. The manager is responding by email.
Speaker: manager (relation to listener: high-to-low)
Listener: employee
Utterance: "I really value your initiative and the work you do, but additional vacation days this quarter would be difficult."
Speaker's actual emotion: sadness
Scenario (passive-aggression): A project director has shown a specific report with a second updated requried template in training sessions. A team member submits the report using the director's old template instead. The director sends a brief message at 5:45pm before leaving the office.
Speaker: project director (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: team member
Utterance: "Next time please be more careful and pay attention to details like which template you are using."
Speaker's actual emotion: fear
Scenario (mixed-signals): You asked your manager about a promotion after a great performance review where they gave noncommittal feedback. They replied late in the evening and you send a short response.
Speaker: manager (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: you
Utterance: "I hope I can translate your recent performance review into a bonus despite the current budget freeze."
Speaker's actual emotion: anticipation
Scenario (sarcasm-irony): A junior resident had pointed out several risks in an medical operation, but their senior attending physician overrides any concerns raised. The operation results in major medical complications and a large lawsuit. When the senior attending physician tries the shift blame to the junior resident, the junior resident responds.
Speaker: junior resident (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: attending physician
Utterance: "It's unfortunate no one raised any objections to the risks involved in this operation."
Speaker's actual emotion: anger
Scenario (deflection-misdirection): During a mid-year review, the team lead brings up repeated late arrivals and asks a specific employee whether there are ongoing issues affecting their punctuality.
Speaker: employee (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: team lead
Utterance: "I bet I get to the office before you tomorrow."
Speaker's actual emotion: surprise
Scenario (strategic-politeness): Your younger sibling just finished a practice run of a presentation for a family gathering. You want to be encouraging but also point out issues they should fix before the real talk.
Speaker: you (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: sibling
Utterance: "You kept your composure well and there were definitely strong parts. There are a few places I'd tighten up. I think people will respond to the main message."
Speaker's actual emotion: joy
Scenario (mixed-signals): They'd spent the morning helping their oldest sibling move boxes after that sibling repeatedly missed agreed pickup times. Near the end, while stacking the last box, the helper responds.
Speaker: helper (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: oldest sibling
Utterance: "Keep flaking out on us like that, and you may be an only child next time."
Speaker's actual emotion: sadness
Scenario (passive-aggression): After a family birthday cleanup, one brother sibling (the listener) repeatedly promised to take out the trash but forgot several times. The sister speaker sibling is worn out from handling most chores recently.
Speaker: sister (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: brother
Utterance: "No, it's fine, really. I'll just take the trash out myself; you must be exhausted."
Speaker's actual emotion: trust
Scenario (mixed-signals): A tired father calls his 16-year-old daughter late at night after a long day at work. She's been anxious about college applications and he missed filing a key form required for her application.
Speaker: father (relation to listener: high-to-low)
Listener: daughter
Utterance: "Don't worry, I've taken care of it already. It'll be done by tomorrow."
Speaker's actual emotion: trust
Scenario (strategic-politeness): An older sibling who usually helps their elderly parents texts a younger sibling who also lives nearby but rarely helps out.
Speaker: older sibling (relation to listener: high-to-low)
Listener: younger sibling
Utterance: "You always brighten our parents days when you show up, and they love that about you. If you could just schedule more time to help them out that would be great."
Speaker's actual emotion: anticipation
Scenario (mixed-signals): An older sister is the live-in caretaker for her parents. She offers to let her younger brother move back home after he lost his job.
Speaker: older sister (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: brother
Utterance: "You're welcome to move back in, as long as we can somehow find space."
Speaker's actual emotion: trust
Scenario (strategic-politeness): My older sister asked to borrow money for a weekend trip. You're younger, on a tight budget, and want to refuse without escalating into an argument.
Speaker: you (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: older sister
Utterance: "You're always so generous and I hate to say no, but I can't lend you money right now. I'm trying to stick to a budget."
Speaker's actual emotion: sadness
Scenario (deflection-misdirection): A 28-year-old daughter is on the phone with their mother; the mother asks how the daughter is handling her recent divorce and whether she needs help. The daughter has been struggling but doesn't want to worry the parent.
Speaker: daughter (relation to listener: low-to-high)
Listener: mother
Utterance: "I'm starting a new project at work, it's really interesting."
Speaker's actual emotion: sadness
Scenario (passive-aggression): An adult son asks his father about moving back home. The son explains his options are limited due an unexpected job loss but the father just lectures him about responsibility.
Speaker: son (relation to listener: low-to-high)
Listener: father
Utterance: "Of course, you're the expert Dad. I should've known better, thanks for always looking out for me anyway."
Speaker's actual emotion: trust
Scenario (passive-aggression): You and a close friend finally meet up after they've canceled plans several times over the past month. Your friend arrive late, apologetic but smiling while you stand waiting.
Speaker: you (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: friend
Utterance: "Oh, you finally made it. I’m just glad I’m important enough for you to show up eventually."
Speaker's actual emotion: surprise
Scenario (sarcasm-irony): On a blind date with Alice, her date repeatedly tripped over their words, accidentally knocked over Alice's wine, and dominated the conversation. Alice meets her friend who set up the date later. When her friend asks how her blind date went, Alice responds.
Speaker: Alice (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: friend
Utterance: "I think they thought it was more of a blind, deaf and dumb date."
Speaker's actual emotion: surprise
Scenario (mixed-signals): Your close friend stayed late helping you paint your kitchen last week. A few days later they call about your latest DIY project and responds bluntly.
Speaker: friend (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: you
Utterance: "Glad I could help out, do you need help again?"
Speaker's actual emotion: trust
Scenario (passive-aggression): You lent a friend some money a few weeks ago. They've been promising to repay but keep postponing and giving excuses. You bumped into them at a coffee shop after another excuse.
Speaker: you (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: friend
Utterance: "It seems like you aren’t having trouble getting money together for things like coffee."
Speaker's actual emotion: surprise
Scenario (passive-aggression): After several canceled dates and last-minute changes, your partner tells you they need to leave dinner early for a work call.
Speaker: you (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: friend
Utterance: "It's great that you can at least show up for your work."
Speaker's actual emotion: anger
Scenario (sarcasm-irony): At a small house party, you introduce your recent ex to you new partner. The introduction made several people visibly uncomfortable and led to awkward, clipped conversation. Later, another friend tries to comment while the group processes the moment.
Speaker: friend (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: group
Utterance: "That definitely wasn't a total disaster."
Speaker's actual emotion: sadness
Scenario (deflection-misdirection): You're in a quiet conversation with your parnter after they asked you point-blank whether you see the relationship going somewhere; the question felt tense and direct.
Speaker: partner (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: you
Utterance: "To the moon baby! To the moon."
Speaker's actual emotion: sadness
Scenario (passive-aggression): You have repeatedly warned your oldest friend about their new girlfriend. You see a scandalous photo of the two together on Instagram and send a short text.
Speaker: you (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: old friend
Utterance: "I really hope you’re keeping in mind how difficult it is to delete things from the internet."
Speaker's actual emotion: anticipation
Scenario (passive-aggression): You notice your best friend's spouse missed their planned anniversary dinner, after being stood up many times before. You send a message to your friend’s spouse.
Speaker: you (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: Friend’s spouse
Utterance: "I hope whatever reason you had to miss your anniversary dinner was worth it."
Speaker's actual emotion: disgust
Scenario (mixed-signals): After an apparently great date, a woman follows up with a compliment but notes their overcommitted schedule.
Speaker: woman (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: date
Utterance: "Can't wait to see you again, but we're going to have to wait until things clear up on my calendar."
Speaker's actual emotion: anticipation
Scenario (strategic-politeness): You and a fellow researcher are discussing a controversial topic with a third collaborator related to a paper all of you are working on. Your fellow researcher cites a foundational paper that have very recently been contradicted by more through peer-reviewed research.  You don't want to embarrass your fellow researcher, but it's important that all three of you work from the most recent, correct studies.
Speaker: you (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: fellow researcher
Utterance: "Yes, that's a highly cited paper, but I think I might've heard some important new findings came out about that recently. Maybe I could look into it tomorrow."
Speaker's actual emotion: trust
Scenario (passive-aggression): You've made plans with someone you're dating who has a pattern of canceling last-minute. Tonight they text that they won't make it again with a vague excuse.
Speaker: you (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: dating partner
Utterance: "That's okay. You go have fun, and maybe we wait to make plans until you can keep them."
Speaker's actual emotion: surprise
Scenario (sarcasm-irony): A double date you helped coordinate for you and your friend went badly: both couples argued, the booked activity was cancelled, and everyone left early. After the disasterous date, your friend turns to you.
Speaker: friend (relation to listener: peer)
Listener: you
Utterance: "So what are you thinking about our next double date, Tuesday?"
Speaker's actual emotion: surprise