Empathy and Its Effects on Software Practitioners’ Well-Being and Mental Health
Lidiany Cerqueira, Sávio Freire, Danilo Ferreira Neves, João Pedro Silva Bastos, Beatriz Santana, Rodrigo Spínola, Manoel Mendonça, José Amâncio Macedo Santos
Abstract
Empathy is a human aspect essential for understanding and sharing the emotions of others. It is a critical ability for effective communication. In this article, we aim to highlight how practicing empathy in software engineering can impact software practitioners’ well-being and mental health. We pay special attention to the value of practicing empathy to learn, enhance, and refine this human skill. Our findings lead us to recommend that team members practice empathy by being mindful, being open, understanding others, and taking care, which can reduce blame, improve job motivation, prevent burnout, and create a better work environment. Our key takeaway is that empathy is an important skill for software practitioners, supporting them to build better products and improve their work environment.