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RailsConf 2019 - Programming Empathy: Emotional State Machines by Coraline Ada Ehmke
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Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. As developers, empathy for our users, our coworkers, and members of our community is an undervalued skill, since expressing emotions is often perceived as a weakness. But responding to the emotions of others is critical to working successfully on a team. This talk will frame emotions as neurological programs, with distinct triggers and multiple terminal states. The goal is to help us understand that when we act as fully realized human beings, and treat others the same way, the quality of our software will improve.

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In her presentation at RailsConf 2019, titled "Programming Empathy: Emotional State Machines," Coraline Ada Ehmke emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and empathy in software development. Ehmke challenges the traditional technical focus of the engineering community by advocating for the integration of emotional awareness into programming practices.

Key points discussed include:  
- **Definition of Emotional Intelligence**: Emotional intelligence involves recognizing emotions in ourselves and others and using that understanding to guide our interactions.  
- **The Emotional Spectrum**: Ehmke presents the idea that empathy exists on a spectrum ranging from apathy to true empathy, and emphasizes the negative implications of disregarding emotions in favor of logic.  
- **Common Pitfalls**:  
  - **Narcissism**: Prioritizing one’s own feelings over others can lead to misunderstandings and a lack of connection.  
  - **Apathy**: Failing to empathize with others' struggles can result in detrimental impacts on teams and communities, including creating software that does not reflect the needs of a diverse user base.  
  - **Codependence**: Sacrificing personal needs for others can also hinder team dynamics and personal well-being.  
- **Models of Emotional Experience**: Ehmke outlines the phases of emotional experience, which include a trigger, emotional state, reaction, decision, and outcome. She links this process to state machines, common in programming, to illustrate how emotions can be understood and managed systematically.  
- **Personal Anecdotes**: Ehmke shares her own experiences with emotions such as anger, guilt, fear, anxiety, and sadness, weaving these personal stories into the broader theme of the talk.  
- **Practical Applications of Empathy**: The talk concludes with Ehmke urging attendees to embrace their emotions, practice emotional intelligence, and apply empathy not only to their work but also within their interactions in life and community.

Overall, the talk showcases that enhancing emotional intelligence is not merely a soft skill but a necessary component of becoming effective developers, ultimately leading to improved teamwork and software quality. As Ehmke articulates, true empathy represents a vital tool for connecting with others and enhancing user experience in software development.

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