Zookeepers are expert at managing temperamental mammals. They face the risk of conflict and aggression every moment of their day. Here's how they manage it: 1. Don’t reward bad behavior. (Or else you’ll get more of it.) 2. Introductions take time. (Don’t expect instant acceptance.) 3. Enrichment always. (The mind needs stimulation.) 4. Good habits can replace bad habits. (The brain runs on habit.)

1. 4 Things Zookeepers
Can Teach the World
Loretta G. Breuning, PhD Oakland Zoo

2. Zookeepers know how to manage
gregarious, temperamental mammals

3. It’s not easy being a mammal

4. All mammals have
the same basic brain structures

5. • learns from life experience
instead of being born pre-programmed
• manages social interactions with neurochemicals
• runs on habit
The mammal brain

6. •This feels good for me:
go toward it
(happy chemicals)
• This feels bad for me:
avoid it
(unhappy chemicals)
Habits of
the Mammal Brain

7. How keepers manage critters
with minds of their own

8. 1. Don’t reward bad behavior
(or else you will get more of it)

9. Try this on someone you know.
(Notice what they do right instead
of noticing what they do wrong.)

10. 2. Introductions take time
(don’t expect instant acceptance)

11. Try this on someone you know.
(People need time to sniff a new social scene
and get used to the smell.)

12. 3. Enrichment always
(the mind needs stimulation)

13. Try this on someone you know.
(Watching a screen is reliable and safe
but the stimulation doesn’t vary much...)

14. 4. Good habits can replace bad habits.
(the brain runs on habit)

15. Try this on someone you know.
(First steps are scary
but a new behavior eventually
feels as natural as the old one.)

16. Loretta@InnerMammalInstitute.org

17. Know your inner mammal
www.InnerMammalInstitute.org
making peace with the animal inside
Inner Mammal Institute