This survey study explored the perspectives of 103 software practitioners from diverse backgrounds to gain insights into the manifestations of empathy in software engineering (SE). It examined how practitioners define empathy, their motivations for practicing it, and the SE activities where empathy is perceived as relevant or irrelevant. The study also investigated factors influencing empathetic behaviors, such as team dynamics, organizational culture, and project contexts.

The findings provide valuable insights to inform future research and support the development of practical strategies for integrating empathy into SE processes. These insights aim to foster more collaborative, inclusive, and user-centered software development practices.